Alex Call hit a two-run double in Washington’s four-run second inning as the Nationals beat the San Diego Padres 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Call also singled to help the rebuilding Nationals improve to 11-11 in May and 21-28 overall.
“We’re coming into the ballpark playing with a lot of energy,” Nationals manager Davey Martinez said. “That’s been the key for these guys. They’re starting to feel like they can compete.”
Washington starter Trevor Williams (2-2) pitched 5 2-3 innings. Carl Edwards Jr. and Hunter Harvey combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings and Kyle Finnegan pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save. They held the Padres to four hits.
“Shut up,” Call said of the bullpen effort. “It’s nice to see our guys taking care of business.”
Keibert Ruiz singled in the first run in the second, and Luis Garcia had a sacrifice fly to cap off the scoring wave.
San Diego’s Rougned Odor hit a two-run home run in the fourth and Washington made it 5–2 in the bottom of the inning when Lane Thomas doubled off Call. Ha-Seong Kim hit a solo home run off Williams in the fifth.
“It’s a running game, and both home runs today weren’t hit,” Williams said. “Luckily, the offense gave us enough runs today that it didn’t hurt. And the bullpen closed the door when they came in.”
Ryan Weathers (1-3) pitched six innings for San Diego.
“He gave us six tickets. I think he pitched pretty well,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “When you get four hits, it’s hard to win a game.”
REMEMBER US?
San Diego’s Juan Soto has reached base six times in nine plate appearances against his former team in this series. The two-time All-Star walked twice on Wednesday night. He homered and went 3 for 4 with a walk Tuesday in the Padres’ 7-4 win.
CJ Abrams, one of six players the Nationals received for Soto and Josh Bell in a deal made last year at the trade deadline, had a single, a walk and a stolen base. He homered Tuesday night.
