Harper, Espinosa homer in Nats' 10-5 win

SAN DIEGO - Stephen Strasburg opened today's game with back-to-back strikeouts. The only problem was that the action on his third strike curveball to Abraham Almonte was so sharp that it skipped behind Jose Lobaton allowing Almonte to reach base safely. Almonte immediately took advantage by stealing second. Then, on the fifth pitch of Matt Kemp's at-bat, Almonte took off for third. Kemp hit a hard grounder up the middle, which Danny Espinosa made a stellar diving stop on. But, by the time Espinosa jumped to his feet, Almonte was already breaking for home. The throw to the plate was late giving the Padres the game's first run.

Strasburg ended up throwing 31 pitches in the first inning.

Bryce Harper drew his major league-leading 36th walk in the second inning.

Update: Strasburg was tagged for a two-out solo homer in the third by Justin Upton.

Meanwhile, Padres starter Ian Kennedy has held the Nationals hitless through four innings with six strikeouts.

Update II: Bryce Harper finally picked up the Nats' first hit with a triple that was blistered to right to start the fifth. Harper motored into third standing up, pumping his fists and yelling toward the Nats dugout. Ryan Zimmerman followed with an infield hit to leave the Nats with runners at the corners and no outs. Both Tyler Moore and Jose Lobaton hit infield pop outs, and it looked as though the Nats may waste a prime scoring chance until Espinosa came through.

Espinosa rocked an 0-1 fastball off Kennedy into the right field seats for a game-changing three-run homer. It's Espinosa's fifth long ball of the season giving him the second-most on the Nats.

Strasburg has allowed two runs on only three hits with a walk and seven strikeouts through five innings.

Update III: Kennedy walked the first three batters in the sixth to load the bases. With Harper coming to the plate, Padres manager Bud Black turned to left-hander Frank Garces. With the count at 2-2, Garces made his pitch, a sharp curveball, but everything is working for Harper these days. Harper got just enough bat on the ball to dribble it up the third base line easily scoring Michael A. Taylor.

Zimmerman followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, and then Moore broke the game open with a two-run double down the left field line.

Strasburg gave up a double to Kemp and a single to Upton to start the bottom of the frame. That ended his evening as right-hander Tanner Roark entered facing runners at the corners with no outs.

The Padres quickly picked up a run on a ground out from Yangervis Solarte, but that was it.

In six innings, Strasburg allowed three runs on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.

Update IV: Ian Desmond and Yunel Escobar connected on consecutive one-out singles in the seventh. Harper then blasted his National League-leading 14th homer. The three-run shot leaves him one behind the Mariners' Nelson Cruz for most in the majors. Harper's four RBIs today gives him a major league-best 37 on the season.

Roark surrendered a solo homer to Upton in the eighth, his second of the game.

Update V: Lefty Sammy Solis gave up a solo home run to Jedd Gyorko in the ninth, but was able to wrap up the win.

The Nats beat the Padres 10-5 to claim their sixth consecutive series win.