Padres vs Nationals Recap: Merrill’s late homer lifts SD to 7-5 win

The San Diego Padres rolled into Washington for a Friday night battle with the Nationals. San Diego came in at 32-24, riding a one-game winning streak. Washington sat at 29-29, trying to bounce back after dropping two straight. The night belonged to the long ball early on. Xander Bogaerts smacked a sacrifice fly that brought Fernando Tatis Jr. home in the first inning, giving the Padres a 1-0 lead. But the Nationals answered fast. Curtis Mead crushed a two-run homer that sent the ball soaring 414 feet to center field, scoring James Wood with him. Then Keibert Ruiz launched another shot—a 382-footer to right-center. Suddenly Washington led 3-1, and San Diego had to wake up.

San Diego wasn't done fighting. In the third inning, Manny Machado slapped a single to right field. That brought Gavin Sheets home and cut the deficit to 3-2. The Nationals scored again in the bottom of the third when Dylan Crews singled to center, scoring CJ Abrams. Washington led 4-2. Then the Padres got rolling in the fourth inning. Freddy Fermin grounded out to shortstop, but that was enough to score Ramon Laureano. Fernando Tatis Jr. followed with a single to right that brought Ty France across the plate. Suddenly it was 4-4, and this game had turned into a slugfest. Both offenses were swinging hard and finding ways to put runs on the board.

The sixth inning changed everything. Ty France stepped up against Mitchell Parker and launched a massive home run that rocketed 413 feet to left-center field. San Diego took its first lead at 5-4. But the Padres weren't finished. In the seventh, Jackson Merrill came to the plate and sent a 414-foot bomb deep to right-center. That blast brought Xander Bogaerts home and put the Padres ahead 7-5. Mason Miller locked down the ninth inning for the save, and San Diego held on for the win. The Padres improved to 33-24 and stayed alive in the playoff race. Washington fell to 29-30 with the loss. It was a battle of home runs, and San Diego's bats won the day.