Game result and context
San Diego Padres defeat Washington Nationals 5-4 in 2026 regular season matchup
Trailing by three runs entering the bottom of the eighth inning, the San Diego Padres scored four times to overcome the Washington Nationals in a 5-4 win.
Final result
The San Diego Padres defeated the Washington Nationals 5-4 on September 8, 2026. The Padres improved their season record to 77-68, while the Nationals fell to 67-80.
How the game changed
The Nationals held a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning after scoring single runs in the second and eighth and two runs in the sixth. The Padres offense responded with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the eighth to take the lead for good. The Nationals were held scoreless in the ninth, sealing the one-run victory for San Diego.
Key performances
Manny Machado led the Padres offense, recording two hits and two runs batted in. Starting pitcher Casey Mize provided 5.2 innings of work, striking out seven batters and allowing three earned runs. For the Nationals, Yohandy Morales and Andrés Chaparro each contributed solo home runs. Brady House added two runs batted in for Washington, and pitcher Riley Cornelio provided 3.0 innings of scoreless relief with four strikeouts.
Season and playoff context
This game was the second of a three-game regular season series between the two clubs. The Padres continue their campaign with a 77-68 record, while the Nationals move to 67-80 as the 2026 season progresses.