Manny Machado’s grand slam ignited a five-run ninth inning rally, propelling the San Diego Padres to a 7-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Friday night at Nationals Park. The dramatic late-game surge sealed the Padres’ fourth win in five games, showcasing their resilience and offensive firepower in a crucial National League contest.
The game remained tightly contested through eight innings. The Nationals took an early 2-1 lead in the eighth when CJ Abrams crushed a two-run homer off San Diego reliever Jason Adams, briefly giving Washington hope of snapping their losing skid, which had stretched to five games. However, the Padres answered decisively in the ninth.
Jake Cronenworth led off the ninth inning with a single off Nationals reliever Kyle Finnegan, followed by a base hit from Jose Iglesias. With runners on first and third, catcher Elias Díaz executed a textbook safety squeeze bunt to bring home Cronenworth, putting the Padres ahead 3-2. This smart, small-ball play underscored San Diego’s ability to manufacture runs under pressure.
Next, Fernando Tatis Jr. singled, and Luis Arraez earned a walk to load the bases, setting the stage for Machado, who now stood with an opportunity to deliver. The third baseman smashed a towering grand slam over the left-center field wall the first of his season and the 12th grand slam of his careerextending the Padres’ lead to 7-2 and effectively putting the game out of reach. The ball traveled an estimated 389 feet with 105.2 mph exit velocity and a launch angle of 22 degrees, a signature display of Machado’s powerful and precise hitting.
“That at-bat was big for us,” Machado said. “We were down by one, and I knew it was a chance to help the team. We fought hard all night, and that’s how we wanted to finish.”
Starting pitching was solid for San Diego. Dylan Cease worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing just four hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks, demonstrating the stuff that contributed to his no-hitter at Nationals Park last July. Washington starter Michael Soroka took the loss, yielding three hits and a run in five innings. The Padres’ bullpen which included Wandy Peralta, who earned the win with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief closed out the game efficiently.
Padres manager Mike Matheny praised the team’s discipline and ability to capitalize late. “That ninth inning showed a lot about our character,” he said. “We stayed composed, and Manny’s grand slam really put the game away.”
For the Nationals, two-time All-Star Abrams had a strong night with two hits, including the earlier two-run homer, but Washington’s limping offense could not sustain momentum. The team has now dropped nine of their last 10 games, leaving them to regroup quickly before their next series.
By snapping the Nationals’ momentum and pulling to 52-44 on the season, the Padres remain in the thick of the NL wild-card chase, eager to build on their winning ways as the dog days of summer unfold.
San Diego’s five-run ninth demonstrated a valuable blend of patience, power, and smart situational hitting. Machado’s grand slam was not only the highlight of the night but a statement of the Padres’ determination to compete fiercely in every inning.
Looking forward, right-hander Yu Darvish is expected to start Saturday’s game, aiming to continue the Padres’ hot streak against the Nationals, who will turn to Mitchell Parker on the mound.
In a contest filled with tense moments and clutch at-bats, Machado’s late heroics were the defining factor, sending the Padres past the Nationals in a 7-2 win that underscored their playoff aspirations and resilience down the stretch.
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