Nationals 4, Padres 2
WASHINGTON -- Rookie Joe Ross allowed just one unearned run in six innings and Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman hit late solo homers for insurance as the Washington Nationals beat the San Diego Padres 4-2 Thursday.
The Nationals (64-62), who won their third series in a row, began the day 6 1/2 games back of the first-place New York Mets in the National League East. San Diego (62-65) had won its previous five series and lost for just the fourth time in 11 games while collecting just three hits.
Werth, who started the game in left, hit a solo homer in the sixth to give the Nationals a 3-1 lead and first baseman Zimmerman made it 4-1 with a solo homer to lead off the seventh against reliever Kevin Quakenbush.
Right fielder Bryce Harper had two hits and reached base his first four at-bats for the Nationals. Werth, Zimmerman (two RBIs) and Anthony Rendon -- who started at second -- had two hits in support of Ross (5-5), who allowed just one bunt hit while striking out seven.
The losing pitcher was San Diego starter Andrew Cashner (5-13), who has not won back-to-back starts this year. He yielded nine hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings while laboring through a 121-pitch night.
Drew Storen pitched a scoreless eighth for the Nationals and Jonathan Papelbon threw the ninth for the save despite giving up an RBI single to first baseman Yonder Alonso that made it 4-2 with two outs.
The Padres scored an unearned run in the fourth to take a 1-0 lead against Ross.
Second baseman Cory Spangenberg reached on a bunt single and the throw by catcher Wilson Ramos was wide of first baseman Ryan Zimmerman as the runner advanced to third. Yangervis Solarte, the third baseman for San Diego, then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Spangenberg.
Washington was able to make contact early on against Cashner and was finally able to cash in. The Nationals stranded six runners in the first four innings but scored two in the fifth to take a 2-1 lead.
Third baseman Yunel Escobar was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Zimmerman followed with a single for the second run. Right field Bryce Harper was thrown out at home on the Zimmerman single.
NOTES: Washington CF Michael A. Taylor hurt his right leg in the seventh and left the game. ... Washington 3B Yunel Escobar left the game in the top of the sixth after he had been hit by the pitch in the fifth. INF Danny Espinosa came into to play second base and INF Anthony Rendon moved from second to third base. ... San Diego sent RHP Marcos Mateo (neck strain) to Triple-A El Paso for a rehab assignment. He is 1-0 with a 5.19 ERA in 15 games out of the bullpen for the Padres. He went on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 6. ... Washington CF Denard Span, who started two games since coming off the disabled list Tuesday, was not in the starting lineup Thursday. "Just a little sore," manager Matt Williams said of Span, who was dealing with a bad back. ... San Diego OF Matt Kemp was not in the starting lineup due to a sore shoulder after he was banged up going for a ball in right field Wednesday. He is listed as day-to-day. ... Washington RHP Max Scherzer (11-10, 2.79 ERA) will start Friday against the Marlins and LHP Adam Conley (1-1, 4.88). ... The Padres begin a series Friday at Philadelphia, where RHP Ian Kennedy (8-11, 4.01) will face Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (4-1, 3.59).