The San Diego Padres defeated the Washington Nationals 7-2 on July 18, 2025, at Nationals Park, improving their record to 53-44 and holding second place in the NL West. The Nationals, struggling at 38-59, remain last in the NL East. Wandy Peralta earned the win for the Padres, while Kyle Finnegan took the loss for the Nationals in a game that showcased strong offensive and defensive plays by San Diego.
Padres’ Offense Shines in Ninth Inning
The Padres vs Nationals matchup was tightly contested until the ninth inning, when San Diego erupted for five runs. Manny Machado’s grand slam off Finnegan, with one out, capped a four-hit inning that sealed the victory. Machado finished with four RBIs, while Xander Bogaerts contributed two hits and a stolen base. Luis Arraez added two hits, including a triple, though he was caught stealing. The Padres’ 11 hits and disciplined plate approach, drawing four walks, overwhelmed Washington’s pitching staff.
Dylan Cease started for San Diego, pitching 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing four hits, and striking out 10. Despite a late two-run homer by Washington’s CJ Abrams in the eighth off reliever Jason Adam, the Padres’ bullpen, including Peralta’s 1.1 scoreless innings, held firm. The team’s defense was equally impressive, turning three double plays and recording an outfield assist by Fernando Tatis Jr. to cut down Josh Bell at third.
Nationals Struggle to Capitalize
The Nationals’ offense managed nine hits but failed to convert key opportunities, going 1-for-4 with runners in scoring position and leaving five runners on base. Abrams’ two-run homer in the eighth provided Washington’s only scoring. Starter Michael Soroka pitched five innings, allowing one run on three hits, but the bullpen faltered. Finnegan’s ninth-inning collapse, allowing five runs, proved decisive in the Padres vs Nationals outcome.
Washington’s defense was solid but couldn’t match San Diego’s efficiency. James Wood stole a base, but two runners, including Bell, were caught stealing by Padres catcher Elias DÃaz. The Nationals’ inability to sustain offensive momentum and their bullpen’s late-game struggles underscored their season-long challenges.
Game Context and Implications
The Padres vs Nationals game drew 22,316 fans to Nationals Park under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 86 degrees. The contest, lasting 2 hours and 57 minutes, highlighted San Diego’s balanced attack and Washington’s ongoing difficulties. For the Padres, the win reinforces their playoff contention in the competitive NL West. The Nationals, meanwhile, continue to focus on developing young talent like Abrams and Jacob Young, who had two hits.
This victory marks the Padres’ continued dominance in the season series against the Nationals, leveraging strong pitching and timely hitting. For more details on the game, including box scores and highlights, visit the official MLB recap.
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