Paders Edge Nationals 3-2 as Pivetta Throws Five Scoreless Innings

Pivetta Leads the Way

San Diego Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta delivered a crucial performance on Monday, September 7, 2026, securing the win in a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals at Petco Park. In his return from the injured list, Pivetta took the mound for five innings. During that span, he allowed two hits and struck out two batters while giving up no earned runs.

His outing was a key factor in keeping the National League West rivals in check during the early stages of the game. The Padres improved their record to 76-68, while the Nationals fell to 67-79.

Early Scoring Edge

The Nationals took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. Juan Soto singled to right field, allowing Raul Mondesi to score and putting the runner on third. The away team extended their advantage to 2-0 in the third inning when Soto singled to left field, scoring Tatis Jr. and moving Cronenworth to second.

The Nationals added a third run in the same inning when Soto singled to center field, allowing Soto to score and moving himself to second base. This sequence gave Washington a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth.

Late Game Response

The Padres began their comeback in the top of the sixth inning. Crews homered to left center field, a blast of 416 feet, which scored Ortiz and cut the deficit to 2-3. The momentum shifted as the game progressed, with the Padres mounting pressure in the late innings.

Although the Nationals maintained a one-run lead for much of the latter half, the Padres' offensive surge kept the game within reach until the final out.

Bullpen Support

Following Pivetta's five-inning start, the Padres relied on their bullpen to close out the game. Kyle Hart pitched one inning, allowing two hits and two earned runs. Bradgley Rodriguez followed with one scoreless inning, striking out two batters.

Adrian Morejon also pitched one inning without allowing a hit or an earned run, striking out one batter. Mason Miller finished the game, pitching one inning, allowing one hit, and striking out two batters to record the save. For the Nationals, Jake Irvin started and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits and three earned runs.

Jared Simpson and Jack Sinclair provided relief, with Simpson pitching one hitless inning and Sinclair pitching 1.1 innings. The final score was 3-2 in favor of the San Diego Padres.

Sources

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401816852