Manny Machado

Machado and Campusano rally Padres past skidding Nationals 5-4 to keep pace in NL wild-card chase

RICHARD J. MARCUS, Associated Press

Sep 9, 2026


SAN DIEGO (AP) — Manny Machado tied the score with a two-run single in the eighth inning, Luis Campusano drove in the go-ahead run and the San Diego Padres rallied past the slumping Washington Nationals 5-4 on Tuesday night.

San Diego, which trailed 3-0 in the seventh and 4-1 in the eighth, remained a half-game behind Arizona for the final National League wild card. The Diamondbacks won 5-3 at Kansas City in 11 innings.

Washington (67-80) lost its sixth in a row and dropped into last place in the NL East, a game behind the New York Mets.

San Diego scored four times in the eighth. Nationals reliever Jared Simpson walked the first three batters and was replaced by Erik Tolman (0-1). After a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Austin Hays left runners at the corners, Fernando Tatis Jr. advanced to second on a passed ball.

Machado singled on the eighth pitch of his at-bat to even it at 4. He moved to second on Ty France's single and scored with two outs when Campusano blooped a broken-bat single to center field.

David Morgan (3-1) threw one pitch and earned the win by stranding a runner at third in the top of the eighth. Adrian Morejon pitched a perfect ninth for his third save, sealing San Diego's fourth victory in five games.

Yohandy Morales and pinch-hitter Andrés Chaparro homered for the Nationals. Brady House had a two-run double.

Washington starter Riley Cornelio, called up last week from Triple-A Rochester, struck out four in three perfect innings.

With his two singles, Machado passed Garry Templeton for sole possession of second place in Padres history with 1,137 hits. Tony Gwynn holds the franchise record with 3,141.

San Diego starter Case Mize went 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and four hits while striking out seven.

Nationals LHP Jackson Kent (1-3, 5.55 ERA), recalled Tuesday from Rochester, takes the mound Wednesday afternoon. RHP Walker Buehler (8-6, 4.56) closes out the three-game series for the Padres.

___

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MLB 2026 Standings

NL EastWLPCTGB
94
68
.580
88
74
.543
6.0
80
82
.494
14.0
77
85
.475
17.0
74
88
.457
20.0
NL CentralWLPCTGB
103
59
.636
Cubs Cubs - w
89
73
.549
14.0
82
80
.506
21.0
77
85
.475
26.0
75
87
.463
28.0
NL WestWLPCTGB
100
62
.617
91
71
.562
9.0
86
76
.531
14.0
65
97
.401
35.0
58
104
.358
42.0
AL EastWLPCTGB
Rays Rays - y
98
64
.605
93
68
.578
4.5
87
75
.537
11.0
79
82
.491
18.5
79
83
.488
19.0
AL CentralWLPCTGB
85
77
.525
84
78
.519
1.0
77
85
.475
8.0
76
86
.469
9.0
69
93
.426
16.0
AL WestWLPCTGB
81
81
.500
80
82
.494
1.0
76
86
.469
5.0
64
98
.395
17.0
62
100
.383
19.0

MLB 2026 Scores & Schedule

Scores

DATEMATCHUPSCORE
Tue
9/15
@
6-7
Tue
9/15
@
1-2
Tue
9/15
@
5-1
Tue
9/15
@
3-6
Tue
9/15
@
7-5

Schedule

DATEMATCHUPTIME (ET)
Tue
10/13
@
8:00 PM
Wed
10/14
@
8:00 PM
Thu
10/15
@
6:00 PM
Thu
10/15
@
9:00 PM
Fri
10/16
@
6:00 PM