Zimmerman's grand slam highlights Nationals' 8-3 win over Padres

The Nationals subdued the Padres 8-3 to start their series Tuesday at Nationals Park. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman broke the game open with a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth that provided the Nationals with an 8-2 lead.

Facing Bud Norris, Zimmerman was able to get ahead in the count and then drove a fastball over the right-center field fence. It was his first grand slam since July 2013, also against the Padres.

"Slider, good pitch, but a little bit off the plate," Zimmerman said of the first pitch from Norris. "The (1-0) fastball was down, could've gone either way. But I think umpire (David Rackley) was good back there tonight, he was pretty tight, good for hitters, I guess, at least. So then you're sitting 2-0 with the bases loaded. You're in an obviously ideal situation right there. So you're looking for something to drive. Just try not to do too much with it."

Manager Matt Williams said he saw this coming from recent Zimmerman at-bats, especially Sunday when the first baseman had a RBI double in the first frame against the Brewers. On Saturday night, he had fly outs to center and right field.

"I can look back a couple of games (and) he just missed three balls the other night," Williams said. "His success comes when he's hitting the ball to the middle of the diamond and when he's driving baseballs. He missed three. Hit a ball off the wall for a double on Sunday and again tonight. If it's middle of the diamond for him, he's on. I think his timing's there. It's evident tonight driving the ball to right center field."

The crowd of 34,199 erupted following the Zimmerman blast, a familiar refrain from late last season when the team was rolling to its second division title.

"Good atmosphere," Williams said. "Curtain call for Zim. It's been a long season for a lot of those guys not being able to play so it's a good feeling."

The Nationals again did a good job of generating offense with two outs. All eight of their RBIs came with two away.

"It's good," Zimmerman said. "Obviously, giving our pitches some runs to work with so they don't have to be perfect and go and challenge hitters with their stuff. They can just kind of pour it in there to get ahead. It's obviously to our advantage. Hopefully, we can keep scoring runs for them and they can keep pitching like they've been pitching."

The lineup put together 10 hits on the evening. Center fielder Denard Span was back in the leadoff spot for the first time since July 7. It represented the lineup that Williams had intended to put out on the field way back on opening day.

"It's nice, but the guys that filled in for all of us that have been hurt have done a good job. Now we have everyone back and hopefully we can get some momentum and keep playing like we have the last week or so," Zimmerman said.

"We have a good player at every position and a guy that is capable of doing something special stuff with the bat, as well. To have everyone back and to be able to see that is nice. It doesn't mean we automatically score runs every game, we still have to go out there with a good approach and grind out at-bats, but its nice to have everyone."

The Nationals offense has now scored at least six runs in four of its last five wins. They also have tallied 23 runs with 30 hits the last three games. Along with strong starting pitching, that adds up to the groove the Nats need to keep pace in the National League East.