The Washington Nationals got off to a fast start in Sunday’s series finale at Petco Park. To put it nicely, the Padres did not.
The Nats scored all six of their runs in the first three innings of a 6-0 win, while the Friars waited until the sixth inning to even put a runner on base.
Eric Stults had another disappointing start on the mound for San Diego (28-35), failing to get out of the third and leaving two runners on base for Tim Stauffer – who proceeded to give up a two-run single on his first pitch.
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Meanwhile, Washington (32-29) starter Jordan Zimmermann was nearly unhittable, throwing a two-hit shutout. He struck out 12 without allowing a walk and was perfect through five innings before giving up a one-out single to Alexi Amarista. He responded by striking out Tommy Medica and Everth Cabrera to end the inning.
After Seth Smith led off the seventh with a triple, Zimmermann quickly retired the side – a Carlos Quentin ground out, Chase Headley pop out and Alonso line out – to preserve the shutout.
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That was all she wrote for the Padres offense, which wraps up a six-game homestand where they scored just 11 runs (1.8 per game), were shut out twice and managed 25 hits (.135 batting average).
After a day off Monday, the Friars head to Philadelphia to kick off an eight-game road trip with three against the Phillies – losers of eight of their last nine and owners of the worst record in the National League. Even with a sweep, they would still be a half-game behind the Padres. So at least that's something.
