Padres Sweep Nationals
San Diego Padres complete series sweep of Washington Nationals with dramatic late-inning comeback.
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Key Points
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San Diego’s comeback was its 38th late-inning rally win of the season, the fourth-highest total in the majors. Manny Machado attributed the pattern to the Padres’ reliable bullpen and an offense built around unselfish at-bats, walks and moving runners along.
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Washington opened the eighth-inning collapse by issuing three consecutive walks to Xander Bogaerts, Freddy Fermin and Fernando Tatis Jr. With the bases loaded, Austin Hays’ pinch-hit sacrifice fly began the rally, and a passed ball put two runners in scoring position before Machado’s tying hit.
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The Nationals had limited San Diego to three hits through seven innings during their bullpen game: Riley Cornelio pitched three perfect innings, while Zak Kent and Yovanny Cruz combined for three scoreless frames.
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Adrian Morejon closed out Tuesday’s win with a 1-2-3 ninth inning after Mason Miller was unavailable, earning his third save of the season.
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Manager Craig Stammen said Machado’s clutch at-bat reflects why Padres fans turn out in large numbers: “There’s a reason 40,000 fans are here tonight, and it’s because when he takes an at-bat, something like that might happen.”
The San Diego Padres rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the eighth inning Tuesday to beat the Washington Nationals 5-4 at Petco Park, completing a three-game sweep Wednesday with a 9-2 victory. Fresno Bee reported that Manny Machado's two-run single tied the game as San Diego improved to 77-68, staying within a half-game of Arizona for the National League's final wild-card spot.
Jackson Merrill powered the Wednesday win with two home runs and a career-high six RBIs, finishing just a double short of the cycle in sweltering 95-degree heat. The Padres' comeback was their 38th late-inning rally win this season — the fourth-most in baseball — while Washington fell to last place in the NL East after its sixth straight loss.
Three Straight Walks Set Up Padres' Eighth-Inning Explosion
Washington's bullpen unraveled in the eighth inning when reliever Jared Simpson issued three consecutive walks to Xander Bogaerts, Freddy Fermin, and Fernando Tatis Jr. with the bases loaded. Austin Hays' pinch-hit sacrifice fly started the rally, and a passed ball put two runners in scoring position before Machado delivered the tying two-run single.
The Nationals had shut down San Diego's offense through seven innings, limiting the Padres to just three hits during their bullpen game. Riley Cornelio pitched three perfect innings while Zak Kent and Yovanny Cruz combined for three scoreless frames, but the bullpen strategy backfired when control slipped away.
Merrill's Six-RBI Night Shows San Diego's Offensive Depth
Jackson Merrill went off Wednesday, smashing two home runs and driving in six runs — a career high. He finished one double away from hitting for the cycle, showcasing the kind of breakout production that can lift San Diego past playoff contenders in tight races.
Merrill's performance revealed offensive ceiling beyond the Padres' established stars like Machado. That contribution matters in a half-game wild-card race, where sustained productions from emerging players reduce dependence on late comebacks and strengthen postseason margins.
Machado's Clutch Hit Rewards 40,000 Fans at Petco Park
Manager Craig Stammen credited Machado's composure at the plate as the reason large crowds turn out at Petco Park. Stammen said: 'There's a reason 40,000 fans are here tonight, and it's because when he takes an at-bat, something like that might happen.' Adrian Morejon closed out Tuesday's win with a 1-2-3 ninth inning, earning his third save.
Machado attributed San Diego's 38 comeback wins to the team's reliable bullpen and an offense built around unselfish at-bats, walks, and moving runners along. The pattern reflects repeatable late-game capability rather than isolated luck — a critical edge in playoff positioning where every half-game counts.
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