Joe Ross Beats Padres In Return To San Diego

Would you rather have Wil Myers or pitcher Joe Ross AND shortstop Trea Turner? 

San Diego’s 7-5 loss to Washington Friday night served as a solid backdrop to debate that question.

In his first start at Petco Park as a member of the Washington Nationals, Ross improved to 6-4 with the victory. 

Pitching against the organization that drafted him 25^th overall in the 2011 MLB draft, Ross struck out six batters in six innings and held the Padres to just three runs on six hits.

Ross had pitched previously against his old team but not in a visiting uniform in San Diego until this particular outing.

With his older brother, Tyson Ross, perched in the Padres home dugout, the younger Ross sibling also won all three of his one-on-one battles with Myers, coercing two groundouts and a sacrifice fly out of the Padres slugger.

You can make the argument that trade worked out pretty well for both the Padres and Nationals. Even though San Diego sent away two former first round picks as part of that huge three-team transaction with the Tampa Bay Rays, Myers looks like an All-Star candidate at this point in the season. 

Myers entered Saturday tied with Matt Kemp with a team-high 15 home runs. Despite going just 1-for-5 Friday (0-for-3 against Ross), the first baseman is batting a sizzling .326 (33-for-101) over the course of his last 26 ball games.

The bulk of Washington’s offense was powered by Daniel Murphy and Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman cranked a 2-run homer in the 3^rd to give the Nats a 5-1 advantage. 

Murphy also provided a 2-run double and later a solo shot in the 6^th inning to extend the visitors lead to 6-2.

Derek Norris lined his 8^th homer of the season when he just barely cleared the left field fence in the 6^th frame. That cut the Padres deficit to 6-3.

3-time Nationals all-star Bryce Harper later smacked a RBI single in the 7^th when he fought back from an 0-2 count with the infield pulled in.

San Diego kept scratching together runs but ultimately came up short against a first-place team that at this stage appears primed for a deep playoff run in the National League.

Jon Jay was the only hometown hitter who looked comfortable at the plate. He collected three hits (including a pair of doubles), scored twice and raised his average to .298. San Diego wound up leaving nine runners on base.

The Padres will try to get back on track Saturday night at 7:10 p.m. when Colin Rea (3-3) takes the mound. 

It will be a tough task as the Nationals have ace Max Scherzer (8-4) scheduled to make the start.