San Diego, CA – Will Venable, Kyle Blanks and Yonder Alonso all hit homers and drove in two runs apiece as the San Diego Padres outslugged the Washington Nationals, 13-4, in the finale of a four-game set at Petco Park.
Everth Cabrera collected two hits and two RBI, Alonso scored three runs and had three hits and Jedd Gyorko also drove in two for the Padres, who finished with 15 hits.
Starter Andrew Cashner (3-2) cruised over 6 2/3 frames, allowing three runs on seven hits while fanning six for San Diego, which has won four of its last six.
"Everyone is just doing their part," said Blanks. "Everyone is keeping the line moving, when we're down everyone keeps fighting. It's one of those feelings, regardless of what the score is, you feel like you're going to win."
Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run homer and had three RBI and Adam LaRoche added an RBI single for the Nationals, who have dropped six of their last nine. Dan Haren (4-5) picked up the loss after yielding seven runs on nine hits over five innings.
Trailing 7-2 in the seventh, Washington added two runs to make it a game. Zimmerman provided a two-out RBI single to right, scoring Denard Span and LaRoche made it 7-4 with a run-scoring single up the middle after Joe Thatcher replaced Tim Stauffer.
That was the closest the Nationals got, however, as San Diego once again took control with five runs, all of which were charged to Washington reliever Ryan Mattheus.
"We didn't pitch very well," said Washington manager Davey Johnson. "We got back in the ball game, but our reliable bullpen just didn't do it. Tough day."
Alonso singled and advanced to second on a balk. Things continued to get worse for Mattheus, who issued consecutive walks to load the bases, and Nick Hundley supplied a sac fly to make it 8-4.
San Diego continued to pound the Nationals' reliever, with the next three batters brining in four runs. Alexi Amarista had an RBI single, Cabrera drove in two with a single and Venable hit a RBI double to make it 12-4.
The Padres struck for three runs in the first off Haren, while their first hitter, Cabrera, single handedly created an issue for the Washington starter.
Cabrera singled up the middle, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch, in between Venable's strike out. Haren issued a walk to Chase Headley and followed by serving up an RBI double to Carlos Quentin to make it 1-0 San Diego. Alonso drove in another run with a sacrifice fly and Gyorko rounded out the scoring with his own run-scoring two-bagger.
Washington finally found the scoreboard in the fourth. Steve Lombardozzi beat out a slow-roller to third for an infield hit and Zimmerman came through with a two-run bomb to left, pulling the Nationals within 3-2.
San Diego broke open the game in the fifth, eventually forcing Haren out of the contest.
Venable opened up the frame with his sixth homer of the year, a moon-shot down the right-field line to make it 4-2. Haren looked to settle down, as he retired the next two batters, though Alonso smacked a double with two down.
Gyorko brought him home with an RBI single to left and Blanks extended the lead to 7-2 with a mammoth shot down the left-field line off of the Western Metal Supply Company brick building.
Game Notes
Haren has faced the Padres 16 times (15 starts) in his career and is 5-4 ... San Diego's 13 runs matched a season-high ... San Diego is 11-3 over its last 14 games at Petco Park ... Haren has dropped three straight starts against the Padres ... LaRoche extended his career-high hitting streak to 16 games.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.