Levale Speigner gives up five runs in 14th; Nats fall 11-6
Tonight was a battle of the bullpens. With both starters long gone, Collin Balester lasted five innings and his counterpart, Dirk Hayhurst, just 3 1/3, it came down to who would give in and the Nationals cried uncle first.
With the game tied 6-6, Levale Speigner, starting the 14th, hit lead-off batter Kevin Kouzmanoff. Chase Headley followed with a triple, high off the wall in right, scoring Kouzmanoff with the go-ahead run; 7-6
With the infield playing in, Nick Hundley singled past Cristian Guzman for the 8-6 lead. After a single, sac bunt, intentional walk and fielder's choice, Brian Giles drew a walk to force in the third run of the inning. Andrian Gonzalez followed with a two-run single to blow the game, 11-6, and put the finishing touches on the 11-6 victory.
Long time Padre Trevor Hoffman, making his 900th career appearance for San Diego, retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning.
Washington's bullpen, which had tossed eight scoreless innings prior to the 14th, was light's out until Speigner fell apart. The Padres 'pen gave up two runs in 10 2.3 innings of work.
San Diego had a golden opportunity in the 12th, but a great play by Charlies Manning made sure the game remained tied 6-6. Edgar Gonzalez doubled to start the inning. Pinch-hitter Jody Gerut, trying to bunt, popped out to Manning, who then doubled Gonzlaez off second.
Washington had a chance to win it in the 10th. Roger Bernadina and pinch-hitter Ryan Langerhans walked, off of Cla Meredith, with one-out. Emilio Bonifacio hit a bullet to third that Kouzmanoff bobbled but got Bernadina for the force out. Guzman had a chance to be the hero, but he grounded out to second to end the inning.
Collin Balester didn't have his best stuff and he left the game giving up five runs on nine hits in five-plus innings. He was lifted in the fifth after giving up back-to-back doubles.
Leading 2-0, Balester gave up a two-out home runs to lead-off batter Will Venable to make it a one-run game. San Diego, with a three-run fourth, took a 4-2 lead before Balester registered an out.
Brian Giles doubled and scored on Adrian Gonzlaez's single to right. On the next pitch, Kouzmanoff ripped his 22nd home run into the seats in right and the Padres built a two-run lead.
The Nationals' tied the game in the home half of the fourth when they loaded the bases with two-outs on Padres starter Hayhurst. Balester, picked up his first career RBI when he single to second base to make it a 4-3 game. Bonifacio followed with a walk to force in the tying run.
San Diego got the lead back in the sixth and chased Balester at the same time. Balester gave up consecutive doubles before being lifted for Garrett Mock. Mock walked Nick Hundley to load the bases before getting back-to-back strike outs. On a 3-2 pitch, Venable's infield single scored the go-ahead run.
Washington put runners on the corners in the bottom of the sixth with one-out before Bonifacio tied the game with a sac fly to left.
Reliever Michael Hinckley moved closer to the franchise record of consecutive scoreless innings to begin a big league career. Hinckley tossed 2/3 scoreless innings to bring his total to 9 2/3, tying him with Steve Frey of the 1989 Expos for third all-time. Gerry Pirtle, 1978 Expos, with 11 2/3 is second behind Bill Atkinson, 1977 Expos, at 13 2/3.
Anderson Hernandez walked to get the inning started. Bernadina, trying to sacrifice himself, got a bit lucky when Kouzmanoff threw to second to get the lead runner, but Hernandez was called safe when second base umpire Mike Easterbrook ruled shortstop Sean Kazmar was off the bag..
After pinch-hitter Pete Orr struck out, Bonifacio walked to load the bases. Guzman, 0-4 prior to the at bat, hit a sac fly to tie the game 6-6.
Postgame Notes
The Nationals, who drew 12 walks, the most since July 6, 2006 vs. Florida, improved to 13-7 when walking more than six times in a game this season.
Roger Bernadina went 3-4 with a run and two stolen bases.
Ryan Zimmerman and Cristian Guzman went a combined 0-13.
Final Linescore
Padres 11-20-0
Nationals 6-10-0
WP-Hampson (2-1)
LP-Speigner (0-1)
HR-Venable (2), Kouzmanoff (22)
Pete McElroy's Live Gameblog
nationals scoring, 8th inning
With the bases loaded and one-out, Cristian Guzman lifted a fly ball to center that was deep enough to score pinch-hitter Anderson Hernandez, with the tying run.
Hernandez walked to lead-off the eighth and moved to second on Roger Bernadina's fielder's choice sacrifice. After pinch-hitter Pete Orr struck out, Emilio Bonifacio walked to load the bags and Guzman delivered the sac fly.
Padres scoring, 8th inning
San Diego used their own version of small ball to take a 6-5 lead in the eighth off Steven Shell.
Sean Kazman led off with a single and moved to second on Luis Rodriguez's sac bunt. Will Venable drove in Kazman to put the Padres up by one. It was Venable's third RBI on the night.
Nationals scoring, 6th inning
Roger Bernadina started a one-out rally in the sixth allowing the Nationals to tie the game 5-5.
Bernadina singles and moved to third on pinch-hitter Willie Harris' single. Emilio Bonifacio's sac fly scored Bernadina with the tying run.
Padres scoring, 6th inning
The Nationals were one pitch away from getting out of a bases loaded, nobody out jam in the sixth, but it wasn't meant to be.
Collin Balester gave up consecutive doubles to Kevin Kouzmanoff and Chase Headly. Kouzmanoff thought Lastings Milledge caught the ball and barely slid ahead of the throw at third. Garrett Mock relieved Balester and walked Nick Hundley to load the bases. Mock got back-to-back strike outs before Will Venable singled, with two strikes on him, and the Padres take a 5-4 lead.
Balester's average outing
Collin didn't have his best outing and he left the game with runners on second and third and no one out in the sixth. He gave up back-to-back doubles with out giving up a run in the inning; very odd. Maybe the weather had something to do with his average performance. Game time temp was 67 degrees and it feels colder.
5 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 0 BB, 4 K, 2 HR. 96 pitches, 61 strikes.
Nationals scoring, 4th inning
Washington loaded the bases with one-out against starter Dirk Hayhurst so Padres manager Bud Black pulled him in favor of Mike Ekstrom.
Roger Bernadina struck out and Manny Acta let Collin Balester bat for himself. On a 3-2 pitch, Balester singled past a diving Adrian Gonzalez at first and collected his first career RBI to make it a 4-3 game. Emilio Bonifacio walked, on the 11th pitch of the at bat, to force in the tying run. Cristian Guzman flew out to center to end the rally.
Padres scoring, 4th inning
Before Collin Balester could register an out in the fourth, the Padres turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead.
Brian Giles led off with a double and scored on Adrian Gonzalez's single. Kevin Kouzmanoff hit the very next pitch into the San Diego bullpen and the Padres have a two-run lead.
Balester thru 3 innings
Collin is doing ok. For a guy who only allowed one hit in his last start, it's tough to pitch much better. He gave up a solo HR in the third, only the second hit he's allowed. Five of the nine outs are fly ball outs and two are stike outs.
3 IP, 2 H, R, 0 BB, 2 K. HR. 49 pitches
Padres scoring, 3rd inning
Leading 2-0, Collin Balester gave up a solo blast to lead-off hitter Will Venable to make it a 2-1 game.
It was only the second homer of the season for rookie, who was called up on August 27th.
Nationals scoring, 2nd inning
Washington added to their lead with a run in the second from Roger Bernadina.
Bernadina singled home Elijah Dukes, who singled and moved to second when Luke Montz walked. It was Bernadina's second RBI on the season. They could have added to their lead, but Collin Balester struck out, on his bunt attempt and Bernadina was thrown out at second trying to steal on the play.
Nationals scoring, 1st inning
The Nationals' used small ball to take an early 1-0 lead.
Emilio Bonifacio walked, on four pitches, stole second, moved to third on Cristian Guzman's ground out and scored on Ryan Zimmerman's ground out.
Starting Line-Ups
Padres
CF Will Venable
2B Matt Antonelli
RF Brian Giles
1B Adrian Gonzalez
3B Kevin Kouzmanoff
LF Chase Headley
C Nick Hundley
SS Sean Kazmar
P Dirk Hayhurst
Nationals
2B Emilio Bonifacio
SS Cristian Guzman
3B Ryan Zimmerman
CF Lastings Milledge
RF Elijah Dukes
1B Kory Casto
C Luke Montz
LF Rober Bernadina
P Collin Balester
Game Preview
San Diego (58-95) at Nationals (58-95)
The Nationals, who just wrapped up a four-game series with the Mets, welcome the Padres to town for a three-game weekend set at Nationals Park.
Washington lost two of three to San Diego at Petco Park back in May, barely getting outscored 13-10.
Last night, Tim Redding lasted just three innings and gave up five runs, four earned, in the Mets 7-2 win. He dropped to 10-10 on the season.
Tonight, Collin Balester looks to pick up where he left off in his last start. He dominated the Marlins, giving up one run in 6 2/3 innings. San Diego sends Dirk Hayhurst to the bump.
Pitching Match-Up
RHP Collin Balester (3-6, 4.54) is coming off one of his best outings of the season, but didn't get a decision because the bullpen blew a 6-1 lead in the eighth and the Nationals' lost 8-7.
Balester allowed one run on four hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings, the third time this season he only gave up one run. The other three times he got the win. The rookie retired 11 of the first 12 Marlins he faced and only one runner got into scoring position in the first six innings.
The 22-year old is winless in his last three starts and has only one victory in his last seven outings. This is his first career start against the Padres.
At Nationals Park this season, Balester is 2-3 with a 4.50 ERA in six games. Since the All-Star break, 10 starts, he is 2-4 with a 4.19 ERA.
RHP Dirk Hayhurst (0-2, 8.49) is making the third start of his Major League career and first since August 29th against Colorado. Hayhurst has made five relief appearances since.
As a starter, the rookie right-hander is 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA, giving up seven earned runs in eight innings pitched. San Diego lost both games.
In his MLB debut, August 23rd at San Francisco, Hayhurst allowed three runs on five hits and two walks in four innings in the Padres 4-3 loss.
His second outing wasn't much better, giving up four runs on five hits and four walks in four innings. The Rockies beat the Padres 9-4 at Petco Park.
Hayhurst, who has never faced the Nationals, has allowed four runs in 3 2/3 innings coming out of the bullpen.
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