SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Nick Hundley delivered a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the San Diego Padres a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday.
Hundley's hit scored Lance Zawadzki who reached base on a two-out infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Nationals.
Washington forced extra innings after two home runs from Ryan Zimmerman, who tied the game 2-2 with his second blast in the sixth inning off starter Jon Garland.
Starting the game on the bench, Hundley has split time in the lineup this season with fellow catcher Yorvit Torrealba, who was picked on Sunday to work with pitcher Jon Garland.
"We both want to be in there every day. That's kind of up to (manager Bud Black), and fortunately now, I think we're making it tough on him to decide," Hundley told reporters.
"This is a good thing, a positive thing. We're both playing well, both driving in runs."
Garland has been a tremendous force in his first year with San Diego and has not lost since April 11.
Looking for his seventh straight win in as many decisions, Garland took a no-decision after pitching seven innings. Reliever Luke Gregerson was credited with the victory after he held the Nationals (25-26) hit-less in the last two innings.
The National League West-leading Padres (30-20) scored twice for a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning where Tony Gwynn Jr. had an RBI single.
Those were the only runs allowed by starter Livan Hernandez, who lasted six and one-third innings but failed to win his first since May 4.
Nationals pitcher Sean Burnett took the loss and was relieved with two outs in the 11th by Matt Capps, who surrendered the game-winning RBI to Hundley.
"It was a fast-ball that I was trying to go away," Capps said, of his final pitch. "I was too aggressive, I think. It just ran over the middle of the plate and he hit it."
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Ian Ransom)
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