Nelson Cruz walked with the bases loaded off Josh Hader for the go-ahead run with one out in the ninth inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 Thursday night.
Hader relieved Yu Darvish (10-7) after the right-hander allowed two singles sandwiched around the first out in the ninth. Hader, obtained from Milwaukee on Aug. 1, hit Luke Voit with a pitch to load the bases and then walked Cruz. Keibert Ruiz followed with a sacrifice fly.
Juan Soto struck out with the bases loaded to end the seventh and then threw his bat and helmet to the ground.
Darvish retired the first eight Nationals batters before Ildemaro Vargas homered to right field, his second. The Nationals had just two runners through the next five innings before starting the winning streak against Darvish in the ninth.
Manny Machado tied the game at 1 with a line drive to left by Anibal Sanchez with two outs in the fourth inning, his 22nd. He also extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Carl Edwards (5-3) pitched a perfect eighth inning for the win. Kyle Finnegan pitched in the ninth for his sixth save.
For the Nationals, Venezuelans Vargas, 3-2, one scored, one RBI; César Hernández 4-1, one scored; and Keibert Ruiz 3-0. The Mexican Joey Meneses 4-0; Cuban Yadiel Hernández 3-0, and Dominican Cruz 3-0, one RBI.
For the Padres, Dominican Soto 3-0.
Cesar Hernandez of the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning of a game against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, in San Diego. The Nationals won 3-1. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)