The Washington Nationals dropped a tough one on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, falling to the San Diego Padres 9-2 at Petco Park. Jackson Merrill was the story, going 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI to lead a San Diego offensive assault that starter Jackson Kent could not contain. The Nationals managed just two runs on the night, with catcher Keibert Ruiz providing the lone highlight on offense. The loss was decisive and thorough — a seven-run margin that leaves little room for sugar-coating.

Jackson Merrill Dominates Washington's Pitching Staff

Merrill was simply unstoppable. His 4-for-5 night with two home runs and six RBI accounted for the bulk of San Diego's damage and did significant damage against Washington's pitching staff on the night. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ty France each went 3-for-5 with an RBI, adding depth to an offense that had answers every time Washington's pitching tried to slow things down in this game. Samad Taylor chipped in a 2-for-4 night, and Austin Hays reached base twice. It was a collective effort, but Merrill was the engine.

Jackson Kent Struggles Early, Nationals Bullpen Absorbs the Rest

Jackson Kent's night was a short and difficult one. Kent lasted just three innings, surrendering five earned runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out two. That kind of early exit forces a bullpen to absorb innings against a lineup that was locked in on this particular night, and that's exactly what happened. Brad Lord followed with two innings but gave up four hits and two more earned runs to push the deficit to 7-2. Luis Perales provided some relief, striking out four over two innings while allowing just one earned run, and Eddy Yean tossed a shaky final inning — three hits and a run in his frame — that closed the book on Washington's night.

The losing pitcher was officially Kent, whose inability to keep San Diego's lineup in check in the early innings set the tone for everything that followed.

Keibert Ruiz Provides Washington's Only Bright Spot

On a night when the Nationals' offense largely went quiet, Keibert Ruiz delivered the only real standout moment for Washington. The catcher went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and one RBI, providing the Nationals' lone extra-base hit of the game. It was a small but notable moment in an otherwise forgettable offensive performance. Washington managed only two runs total against a Padres pitching staff that turned the game over to its bullpen early — San Diego's Walker Buehler allowed two earned runs over 2.1 innings, but the game was already slipping away by then.

San Diego's Bullpen Locked It Down

  • Kyle Hart: 2.1 innings, no earned runs, no hits — earned the win
  • Wandy Peralta: 2.0 innings, two strikeouts, no earned runs
  • Griffin Canning: 1.0 inning, one strikeout, clean frame
  • Yuki Matsui and David Morgan also contributed scoreless relief innings

After Buehler's early exit, San Diego's bullpen was dominant. Hart, Peralta, Canning, Matsui, and Morgan combined to throw 6.2 innings of one-hit, no-earned-run baseball. Washington managed just one hit against that stretch of San Diego relief work, and the 9-2 final reflected it accurately.

What's Next for the Nationals

The Nationals remain on the road following this loss. Wednesday's result is a reminder of how quickly a game can unravel when a starting pitcher surrenders crooked numbers in the early innings and the offense can't keep pace with a productive opposing lineup. The margin — seven runs — tells the full story. Washington will need a bounce-back performance to reset before this road trip gets any longer.