Article Author:
Reuters
Nelson Cruz tied the Washington Nationals with a 3-1 victory over San Diego on Thursday night with one out from Padres closer Josh Hader in the ninth inning, four pitches and a bases loaded walk. .
Keibert Ruiz hit a sacrifice fly to score the final run for the Nationals in the opening game of his series in four games.
Cesar Hernandez started the inning, with Padres starter Yu Darvish ejecting Joey his Meneses with an infield pop-out. Alex Cole singled to center, prompting Padres manager Bob Melvin to replace Darvish with Hader. The lefty hit former Padre Luke Voight on a full-count pitch to put the bases loaded and walk Cruz to force Hernandez. The call was recorded on Ruiz's flyout.
Carl Edwards Jr. (5-3) pitched a perfect eight to win. Kyle Finnegan recorded his sixth save, pinch-hitter Jurrickson walking his two-hitter in the ninth inning with one out before inducing a game-ending double play ground ball from his proffer.
Darvish (10-7) lost despite a strong attack. In 8 1/3 innings, he gave up his 3 runs on his 5 hits and was 0 with 6 strikeouts.
Darvish and Nationals starter Anibal Sanchez saw him draw 1–1, extending into the ninth inning. Each provided a solo homer early in the game.
With two outs in the third inning, Washington's Ildemar Vargas hit his second home run of the season and drove Wright to his stands. Darvish retired the next eight batters he faced before Vargas singled with one out in the sixth. , retired seven more Nationals. San Diego's Manny Machado tied the game with his one out in the fourth inning, hitting his 22nd home run of the season to left field on his 3–0 count. It was the only hit Sanchez allowed in a five-inning stint. He hit his two steps, four.
The Padres hit singles from Jake Cronenworth and Ha Sung Kim in the seventh inning when he got one out and the bases loaded on a walk to Austin Nola. However, Washington reliever Victor Arano defeated Trent Grisham and Juan Soto to tie the game.
– Field Level Media
