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Associated Press 8y

Drew's game-ending triple lifts Nationals over Padres 3-2

MLB, Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres

WASHINGTON -- Pinch-hitter Stephen Drew hit a game-ending RBI triple in the ninth inning to give the Washington Nationals a 3-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night.

Anthony Rendon opened the bottom off the ninth with a single off reliever Kevin Quackenbush (6-4). Drew entered with one out and drove a pitch off the center-field scoreboard, and Rendon raced around the bases for the winning run.

Jonathan Papelbon (2-2) allowed a leadoff double in the ninth before retiring three straight batters. San Diego left runners in scoring position in each of the last two innings.

Max Scherzer struck out 10 over seven innings. Washington's starter surrendered two runs and four hits, including a two-run homer to Ryan Schimpf.

Edwin Jackson allowed two runs and six hits over six innings for the Padres.

San Diego fell to 1-5 on its 10-game road trip. The Padres snapped a four-game skid with a 5-3 win Friday.

Scherzer struck out three of the first five batters, but Schimpf struck back for the Padres in the second, turning on a 2-0 fastball for a towering drive deep over the right-field wall for a 2-0 lead. The homer was the 22nd allowed this season by Scherzer, most in the NL.

The All-Star recovered and retired 15 of the final 16 batters he faced. Since June 1, Scherzer is 5-2 with a 1.71 ERA in 10 starts.

He struck out at least 10 batters for the eighth time this season and 44th over his career. Scherzer allowed one run over six innings with 10 strikeouts in a no-decision at San Diego on June 18.

NL batting leader Daniel Murphy's third-inning sacrifice fly cut San Diego's lead in half.

Washington tied the score 2-2 in the fifth with a pair of doubles. Ben Revere stepped into the batter's box 2 for 20 on the homestand before stroking the ball into the right-field corner, scoring Danny Espinosa.

Travis Jankowski tripled with two outs in the eighth, but Nationals reliever Shawn Kelley ended the threat by striking out Wil Myers looking.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Padres: RHP Tyson Ross (right shoulder inflammation), out since Opening Day, recently threw from 250 feet. "His arm feels really good," Padres manager Andy Green said. "It's still just taking time."

Nationals: 1B Ryan Zimmerman (left ribcage strain) went 2 for 3 with a three-run homer Saturday for Class A Potomac in his third rehab game. Placed on the DL retroactive to July 7, Zimmerman is expected to rejoin Washington's lineup Tuesday at Cleveland.

UP NEXT

Padres: LHP Christian Friedrich (4-6, 4.55) lost his fourth straight decision in his previous start, allowing four runs -- three earned -- over 5 1/3 innings during a 10-2 setback at St. Louis Monday.

Nationals: RHP Lucas Giolito (0-0, 4.70), Washington's top prospect, will be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse for Sunday's start. The 22-year-old was demoted on July 8 following his first two ML starts.

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