Washington at San Diego

Washington at San Diego

This is Missed It. Washington at San Diego, Monday, September 7, 91 and partly cloudy at Petco Park, with the Nationals. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

We are in San Diego tonight, folks. The Washington Nationals against the San Diego Padres. It's a fresh start, a new ballgame, and we've got our guys ready to go. The Nats are looking to make some noise on the road, and it all starts right here, right now. Let's get into it.

Innings 1-3

We get started in the top of the first, and it's a quick one for our boys. Three batters come up, three batters go down. No runs, no damage, and we're still tied at zero. A clean inning, but we need to get something going. Then the Padres come up in the bottom of the first, and they waste no time. With one out and a runner on, Manny Machado steps in and he doubles on a fly ball to right fielder James Wood. Just like that, the Padres have a runner in scoring position. The crowd is getting into it, but we're not worried yet. We've got a pitcher on the mound who can work out of jams. But then, with two outs and two on, Jackson Merrill comes up. He singles on a line drive to right fielder James Wood. Manny Machado scores. Ty France moves to third. And just like that, it's one to nothing, Padres. That one hurt. We had two outs, we were one pitch away from getting out of the inning, and they found a hole. One run in, but we're not out of this. Top of the second, and it's another quick one for the Nationals. Three batters, three outs. No runs. We're still down one, but the game is young. Bottom of the second, the Padres go down in order. Three batters, no runs. Good. We needed that. We're keeping it close. Top of the third, and we finally get a little something going. Five batters come up, and with two outs and two on, Abimelec Ortiz steps to the plate. This is our chance. This is the moment to break through. But he grounds out to first baseman Ty France. The inning is over. The threat is gone. We had two on with two outs, and we couldn't cash in. That's a momentum swing, and it stings. We had a chance to tie this game, and it slipped away. Bottom of the third, and the Padres are back at it. No outs, two on, and Manny Machado is up again. He singles on a ground ball to left fielder Dylan Crews. Fernando Tatis Jr. scores. Jake Cronenworth moves to second. It's two to nothing now, and the Padres are smelling blood. Then, with two outs and a runner on, Jackson Merrill does it again. He singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Jacob Young. Manny Machado scores. Merrill moves to second. And just like that, it's three to nothing, Padres. That one hurt. We were in this game, and now we're staring at a three-run deficit. We've got to find a way to answer.

Innings 4-6

Top of the fourth, and we need a spark. Three batters come up, three batters go down. No runs. We're still down three, and the bats are quiet. We're not panicking, but we need something to change. Bottom of the fourth, the Padres get five batters up, but they can't push anything across. No runs. Good. We're holding the line. Now we need the offense to wake up. Top of the fifth, and it's another quick inning. Three batters, no runs. We're running out of time, folks. We're down three, and we haven't scored a single run. The tension is building. Bottom of the fifth, the Padres go down in order. Three batters, no runs. We're keeping it at three, but we need to score. We need a rally. Top of the sixth, and here we go. Five batters come up, and with two outs and a runner on, Dylan Crews steps to the plate. And he doesn't miss it. Dylan Crews homers on a fly ball to left center field. Abimelec Ortiz scores. It's three to two, Padres. We're back in this thing. That was a big swing, a huge moment. We were down three, and now we're within one. The dugout is alive, the bench is up, and we've got life.

The Sequence

This is where the game gets decided, folks. We're down one, three to two, and every pitch matters now. Bottom of the sixth, the Padres get four batters up, but they can't add on. No runs. We're still down one, and we've got a chance. Top of the seventh, three batters, no runs. We can't get anything going. We're still down one, and the pressure is mounting. Bottom of the seventh, three batters, no runs. The Padres can't extend the lead. We're still in this. Top of the eighth, three batters, no runs. We're running out of chances. We need a hit, we need a break, we need something. Bottom of the eighth, and this is the moment. With one out and bases empty, Jackson Merrill doubles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Jacob Young. The Padres have a runner in scoring position, and they're looking to add an insurance run. The crowd is on their feet. But then, with one out and the bases loaded, Xander Bogaerts steps up. He lines into a double play. Left fielder Dylan Crews to second baseman CJ Abrams. Luis Campusano is out at second. The inning is over. The threat is gone. That was a momentum swing, folks. We dodged a bullet. We got out of that inning without giving up a run, and now we've got one last chance. Top of the ninth, down one. This is it. With one out and bases empty, Dylan Crews singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jackson Merrill. We've got a runner on. We've got life. But then, with one out and a runner on, CJ Abrams strikes out swinging. That's a tough one. We needed him to put the ball in play, and he couldn't get it done. And then, with two outs and a runner on, Brady House grounds out. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts to first baseman Ty France. The game is over.

Wrap-up

Final score, three to two, Padres. We came up short, folks. We fought back from three down, we had our chances, we had the tying run on base in the ninth, and we just couldn't get it done. That one hurts. But we don't quit. We keep fighting. We get them tomorrow.

Outro

That was Washington at San Diego, from the Nationals side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.

Washington at San Diego

This is Missed It. Washington at San Diego, Monday, September 7, 91 and partly cloudy at Petco Park, with the Padres. You missed it? Here's the whole game, as it happened.

Pregame

The Washington Nationals are in town, and the San Diego Padres are ready to defend home soil. The Nationals bring their young energy, and we bring the noise. First pitch is moments away, and the air is thick with possibility. We have the ball first, and the scoreboard is clean. Let's see what tonight holds.

Top 1

The Nationals step in to start this one, and our pitcher is locked in from the first pitch. Three batters come up, and three go down. No runs, no drama, just a clean inning to set the tone. The score stays at zero-zero, and we're already feeling the rhythm. That's how you open a ballgame.

Bot 1

We answer right away. With one out and a runner on, Manny Machado steps in and rips a double on a fly ball to right fielder James Wood. The ball carries, the runner moves, and suddenly we've got a man in scoring position with the heart of the order coming up. The crowd is on its feet, and the dugout is alive. Two outs now, two on, and Jackson Merrill comes to the plate. He doesn't waste a moment. Merrill singles on a line drive to right fielder James Wood, and Manny Machado comes flying home. Ty France moves to third. The ball is in play, the throw is late, and we're on the board. One run in, and the energy in this ballpark just shifted. That's a big hit, and it puts us up one-nothing.

Top 2

The Nationals come back out, and our guy is still dealing. Three more batters, three more outs. No runs, no trouble. The defense is sharp behind him, and the momentum is ours. Score stays one to nothing, and we're feeling good about where this is headed.

Bot 2

We get our turn, and it's a quick one. Three batters, no runs. The Nationals' pitcher settles in, and we don't push anything across. It's still one to nothing, but there's no panic. We've got the lead, and we've got the arm on the mound.

Top 3

The Nationals threaten for the first time. Two outs, two on, and Abimelec Ortiz steps in with a chance to change the game. He swings, and the ball is on the ground to first baseman Ty France. France handles it cleanly, steps on the bag, and the inning is over. That's a momentum swing if we've ever seen one. The threat is snuffed out, the crowd roars, and we walk off the field still holding the lead. One to nothing.

Bot 3

Now we go to work. No outs, two on, and Manny Machado is back at the plate. He singles on a ground ball to left fielder Dylan Crews, and Fernando Tatis Jr. comes racing home. Jake Cronenworth moves to second. The ball is in, the run is in, and the lead is two. The place is rocking. Two outs later, a runner on, and Jackson Merrill steps in again. He's already got one hit tonight, and he's not done. Merrill singles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Jacob Young, and Manny Machado scores. Merrill takes second on the throw. That's another run, and it's three to nothing. The bats are alive, the crowd is electric, and we're rolling.

Top 4

The Nationals come back out, and our pitcher is still in command. Three batters, three outs, no runs. The lead holds at three to nothing, and the defense is doing its part. Every ball in play is handled, every threat is erased. This is how you build a ballgame.

Bot 4

We get another turn, and it's a bit longer but just as quiet. Five batters come up, and we can't push anything across. No runs, but the at-bats are competitive. We're not giving anything away, and the lead is still three to nothing.

Top 5

The Nationals are running out of time, and they know it. Three more batters, three more outs. No runs, no chances. Our guy is dealing, and the defense is flawless behind him. Three to nothing, and the innings are ticking away.

Bot 5

We come up and go down in order. Three batters, no runs. The Nationals' pitcher is keeping them in this, but we've got the lead and we've got the confidence. Three to nothing, and we're heading into the back half of this game.

Top 6

And then, in a flash, the Nationals remind us this isn't over. Two outs, a runner on, and Dylan Crews steps in. He gets a pitch he likes and sends it on a fly ball to left center field. It carries, it carries, and it's gone. A home run. Abimelec Ortiz scores, and just like that, it's three to two. The lead is down to one, and the crowd goes quiet. That's a big swing, and we feel it. But we're still ahead.

The Sequence

This is where the game gets decided. We're up three to two, and every pitch matters now. We come up in the bottom of the sixth, and we go down in order. Four batters, no runs. The Nationals' pitcher is keeping them alive, and we can't add on. Still three to two. Top of the seventh, and our guy is still out there. Three batters, three outs. No runs. The lead holds. Bottom of the seventh, and we go quietly again. Three batters, no runs. The tension is building. Top of the eighth, and the Nationals get their chance. Three batters, three outs. No runs. We're still up by one, and the crowd is holding its breath. Bottom of the eighth, and we get a chance to breathe. With one out and bases empty, Jackson Merrill steps in and doubles on a sharp line drive to center fielder Jacob Young. A runner in scoring position, and the crowd is on its feet. This is our chance to add on. But then, with one out and the bases loaded, Xander Bogaerts steps in. He swings, and the ball is lined to left fielder Dylan Crews. Crews catches it, fires to second baseman CJ Abrams, and Luis Campusano is out at second. A double play. The inning is over, the threat is gone, and the crowd groans. That's a momentum swing, and it hurts. Top of the ninth, and it all comes down to this. One out, bases empty, and Dylan Crews steps in. He singles on a ground ball to center fielder Jackson Merrill. A runner on, and the tying run is at the plate. CJ Abrams steps in next, and he strikes out swinging. One down. Brady House comes up with two outs and a runner on. He grounds out, shortstop Xander Bogaerts to first baseman Ty France. The game is over.

Wrap-up

Final score, three to two. We win. It wasn't pretty, and it wasn't easy, but we held on. The bats got us the lead, the defense kept it, and the bullpen closed the door. A win is a win, and tonight, that's all that matters. We're heading home happy, and the Padres are walking off the field with a victory.

Outro

That was Washington at San Diego, from the Padres side. This has been Missed It. Every game, both sides, at missed it dot net. Produced by James Barrett.