Renfroe does it again, but Soto answers back (Nats fall 8-3 in 10)

The Padres put big hitter Hunter Renfroe in the starting lineup Saturday afternoon against the Nationals. Renfroe, playing left field today, reached out and made solid contact on a Sean Doolittle changeup last night to propel San Diego to a 4-3 win in the series opener.

In the second inning Saturday against Nats right-hander Stephen Strasburg, Renfroe crushed a 1-2 changeup over the left field wall. The two-run shot was his sixth on the season. Strasburg has four strikeouts through three frames.

The Nats have a single by Yan Gomes in the second but nothing else so far against Padres southpaw Eric Lauer. Gomes has four hits in his five at-bats in the series.

After three innings, the Padres lead the Nationals 2-0.

Update: With one out in the sixth, Lauer walked Victor Robles. With two away, Juan Soto connected on a two-run blast to right field. His fifth homer of the season tied the game and chased Lauer.

After six innings, the Nats and the Padres are tied 2-2.

Update II: Strasburg lasted seven innings, allowing only two runs on four hits with nine strikeouts and one walk. He threw 100 pitches, 66 for strikes.

Update III: The Padres walked Gomes, Brian Dozier and Adam Eaton in the seventh. But with two outs and facing Craig Stammen, Robles flew out to center field to end the frame.

After seven innings, the Nats and the Padres are tied 2-2.

Update IV: Nats closer Sean Doolittle struck out two and Padres reliever Luis Perdomo struck out the side in the ninth. We head to extra innings in D.C., tied 2-2.

Update V: San Diego went after the Nats bullpen in the 10th inning. Facing Wander Suero, pinch-hitter Ty France singled up the middle. Francisco Mejía doubled down the right field line to put runners on second and third with no outs. Greg Garcia's sacrifice fly to left field scored France and the Padres led 3-2. Suero then walked Fernando Tatis Jr. and Wil Myers.

Justin Miller arrived and hit Manny Machado with a pitch that scored a run to make it 4-2. Manuel Margot added a two-run single to left field and it was 6-2 Padres.

Matt Grace arrived and walked Eric Hosmer. Renfroe hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score another run. The ball got away from Gomes on a throwing error by Robles, which allowed another run to cross the plate and the Padres led 8-2.

With two outs in the bottom of the 10th, Howie Kendrick slammed a solo homer, his fourth of the season, over the center field wall. Ryan Zimmerman lined out to right field to end the game.

The Padres downed the Nationals 8-3 in 10 innings to win the series. The Nats are a season-low three games under .500 at 11-14 and have lost three in a row and six of their last eight.