The San Diego Padres cruised to an emphatic 8–1 victory over the Washington Nationals on July 20, 2025, at Nationals Park, powered by a dominant pitching performance from Nick Pivetta and a first-inning grand slam from Xander Bogaerts. The victory was a showcase of San Diego’s offensive firepower and pitching efficiency, highlighting their continued push toward postseason contention.
Padres starter Nick Pivetta was the cornerstone of the win, delivering six strong innings while allowing just one run on five hits, striking out five, and walking none. Pivetta improved to 10-2 on the season and extended his impressive streak, posting a minuscule 0.57 ERA over his last five starts. Facing the Nationals this year has been a particular advantage for Pivetta, who against Washington carries a 0.69 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched this season. Pivetta, who was originally drafted by the Nationals in 2013 before being traded to Philadelphia and later joining the Padres, expressed satisfaction with his outing: “I focused on attacking the zone early and trusting my pitches to work. Our offense gave me plenty of support, so I just stayed locked in every inning.”
The offensive onslaught began immediately, as Xander Bogaerts blasted a grand slam on the very first pitch he saw from Nationals starter MacKenzie Gore (4-9), who struggled mightily in his outing. This powerful shot marked Bogaerts’ sixth home run of the season and his eighth career grand slam, giving the Padres a 4-0 lead before Washington’s lineup even got an opportunity to respond. The inning continued to unravel for the Nationals when Jake Cronenworth followed up with an RBI double to extend the lead to 5-0.
Elias Díaz provided additional power support with a two-run homer in the third inning, further pressuring the Nationals and forcing an early exit for Gore, who allowed eight runs the most he’s conceded in a game this season in just 2 1/3 innings. Despite the Nationals’ resilience, including a solo home run by Riley Adams in the fifth inning, the Padres maintained control throughout the game.
San Diego’s bats tallied a total of 13 hits, demonstrating balanced contributions throughout the lineup. The team’s offensive depth and aggressive approach at the plate overwhelmed Washington’s pitching staff, which struggled to find solutions against a relentless Padres offense keyed by Bogaerts and Díaz.
Padres manager Larry Pope highlighted the team’s all-around effort: “From the first pitch, our guys were locked in. Nick was sharp, and the offense put together a powerful showing early on that really set the tone. We’re pleased with this win and the way we keep building momentum.”
The Padres improved to 54-45 on the season, winning two of three games in the weekend series and five of their last seven overall. Meanwhile, the Nationals dropped to 39-60 amid a difficult stretch, posting a record of 2-7 under interim manager Miguel Cairo.
Looking ahead, San Diego’s pitching plans for their next series against the Miami Marlins are still pending, but this dominant display against Washington sends a clear message about their potential during the crucial second half of the season.
Ultimately, San Diego’s 8-1 rout was powered by Pivetta’s masterful start and Bogaerts’ early grand slam, combining to stifle the Nationals and energize the Padres’ push as they aim to solidify their playoff position.
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