Nationals 5, Padres 4
Nationals 5, Padres 4: Adam LaRoche homered and Ryan Zimmerman singled in the go-ahead run as host Washington handed San Diego its eighth straight loss.
Bryce Harper, who talked his way back into the lineup after manager Nationals Davey Johnson suggested giving him a couple of days off, responded with three RBIs. Ross Ohlendorf (2-0) earned the win in relief of Jordan Zimmermann, who was charged with three runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings and failed to tie the Detroit Tigers’ Max Scherzer for the major league-lead in wins with 13.
Jesus Guzman slugged a go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth for the Padres, who have dropped 14 of their last 18 games. Nick Vincent (2-1) recorded only one out while surrendering the tying and go-ahead runs to suffer the loss in relief.
Zimmermann left with a 3-1 lead and two runners on in the sixth, but Ohlendorf immediately yielded Guzman’s blast to put San Diego on top. Vincent came on in the seventh and put two runners on before yielding to Joe Thatcher, who unleashed a wild pitch before Harper’s sacrifice fly tied the game.
Luke Gregerson entered to face Zimmerman and surrendered a single to right that plated Ian Desmond. Rafael Soriano worked around a pair of hits in the ninth for his 24th save.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Padres C Yasmani Grandal left in the third inning with a leg injury. Grandal got his leg caught on the plate and tangled with Anthony Rendon, who was attempting to score from third. … Harper, who finished 1-for-2 with a walk, had gone hitless in four straight games and was 1-for-19 in five games since his return from the disabled list prior to Saturday. … Padres starter Jason Marquis allowed three runs on eight hits in six innings.