Padres defeat Nationals 7–2 with Machado’s Grand Slam
Manny Machado crushes a ninth-inning grand slam as the Padres rally past the Nationals; Dylan Cease shines with 10 strikeouts.
Padres Erupt Late With Offensive Firepower 💥
Game Recap – July 18, 2025 – Nationals Park
The San Diego Padres defeated the Washington Nationals 7–2, exploding with a huge rally in the ninth inning to take control of a tense matchup.
Padres starter Dylan Cease delivered a dominant performance, throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and no walks, showing complete command from the mound.
Key Moments
CJ Abrams tied the game for the Nationals with a two-run homer in the eighth inning.
But in the top of the ninth, the Padres roared back:
Jake Cronenworth and José Iglesias opened the inning with back-to-back singles.
Elias Díaz executed a squeeze bunt to bring in the go-ahead run.
With the bases loaded, Manny Machado crushed a grand slam to left field to break the game open and seal the win.
Reliever Wandy Peralta earned the win after 1 1/3 innings of solid work.
Pitching Duel
Padres: Cease was in total control, laying the foundation for the comeback.
Nationals: Starter Michael Soroka kept the game close, allowing just one run over five innings.
Standout Performers
Xander Bogaerts delivered a solid game with two hits and a run scored.
Jacob Young was Washington’s most consistent bat with a pair of hits.
What It Means
The Padres (53–44) bounced back with a timely rally, while the Nationals (38–59) suffered their fifth consecutive defeat.
Looking Ahead
Padres: Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish will take the mound in the next matchup, aiming to keep the momentum alive.
Nationals: Lefty Mitchell Parker will try to stop the bleeding for Washington