Doug Fister rocked early as Nats fall 8-3

SAN DIEGO - Padres starter Tyson Ross opened the game by striking out Nationals center fielder Denard Span. Then the skies opened up, and for only the fifth time in the history of Petco Park, a Padres game was delayed by rain.

One hour, 56 minutes later, the game resumed with third baseman Yunel Escobar softly grounding out to Padres first baseman Will Middlebrooks. Ross then struck out left fielder Jayson Werth swinging to end the Nats' half of the inning.

Right-hander Doug Fister quickly retired the Padres' first two hitters before running into serious trouble. Right fielder Matt Kemp and left fielder Justin Upton put together consecutive singles, and then catcher Derek Norris crushed a three-run bomb.

The Padres did even more damage with two outs in the second. Third baseman Cory Spangenberg started with a solo shot to right-center field. Fister followed by surrendering his first walk in 19 1/3 innings to center fielder Will Venable. Two more hits from Kemp and Upton led to the Padres' fifth run. And then Norris struck again. This time it was a two-run triple off the wall in left-center field.

All seven Padres runs came with two outs.

The Nats originally selected Norris in the fourth round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. But, in December of 2011, Norris was shipped to Oakland in the trade to acquire left-hander Gio Gonzalez. The Padres dealt for Norris this past December.

Fister's night ended after just two innings. He allowed seven runs on eight hits (two home runs), with one walk and one strikeout.

Nationals manager Matt Williams opted for right-hander Blake Treinen in the third. Treinen was able to retire the Padres in order.

Shortstop Ian Desmond has the only hit for the Nats so far.

Update: The Nats got on the board in the fourth. Right fielder Bryce Harper drew his league-leading 31st walk with two outs. First baseman Ryan Zimmerman's single moved Harper to third. Then, catcher Wilson Ramos extended his hitting streak to 16 games with an RBI base hit to right.

The Padres quickly responded in their side of the inning when Spangenberg went yard again. His second solo shot of the game was also his second homer of the year.

A couple singles from second baseman Danny Espinosa and Span led to the Nats' second run on a groundout from Escobar in the fifth.

Update II: Ramos picked up his second RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Harper is 0-for-1 with three more walks tonight.

Update III: The Padres beat the Nationals 8-3.