The San Diego Padres survived a late Washington Nationals rally to claim a 3-2 victory at Petco Park on Monday, September 7, 2026. Jackson Merrill delivered the offensive punch with three hits and two RBIs, Nick Pivetta dominated through five scoreless innings, and Mason Miller slammed the door in the ninth for the save. The Padres scratched out all three of their runs against starter Jake Irvin, who allowed eight hits over 5.2 innings and took the loss.

Nick Pivetta Gives the Padres a Quality Start

Pivetta was the foundation of Monday's win. The right-hander worked five full innings, surrendering just two hits and zero walks while striking out two. He kept the Nationals off the scoreboard entirely, giving the bullpen every opportunity to protect a lead. It was a clean, efficient outing — no dramatics, just results — and it earned Pivetta the win on the strength of his own performance.

After Pivetta exited, Kyle Hart ran into trouble in the sixth. Hart allowed two hits and gave up both of Washington's runs — including a Dylan Crews home run — in one inning of work. That solo sequence tightened what had been a more comfortable game into a 3-2 nail-biter heading into the final frames.

Bullpen Steadies the Ship in the Final Innings

Once Hart surrendered the lead down to one run, the Padres turned to three relievers to protect it. Bradgley Rodriguez was sharp in the seventh, striking out two batters and allowing no hits or walks across a clean inning. Adrian Morejon followed with a scoreless eighth — one strikeout, no baserunners. Both arms did exactly what was asked of them with the game on the line.

Mason Miller handled the ninth and closed it out with his customary efficiency. Miller allowed one hit but struck out two Nationals batters to secure the save. The Padres bullpen, after Hart's turbulent sixth, allowed no additional earned runs over three innings of work — a crucial stretch that kept a one-run lead intact.

Merrill, Tatis, and Machado Carry the Offense

San Diego's offense did its damage early against Nationals starter Jake Irvin. Irvin labored through 5.2 innings, giving up eight hits and three earned runs while walking two and striking out three. The Padres put contact on the board consistently, and three players in particular made the box score look very good in brown and gold.

Jackson Merrill was the standout at the plate. The outfielder went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, providing San Diego with the margin that ultimately held up. Merrill's ability to produce with runners on base was the decisive factor in this game — two of his three hits came with runs attached.

Fernando Tatis Jr. also went 3-for-4, putting together the kind of multi-hit performance that puts pressure on opposing pitching staffs from the first inning. While Tatis didn't drive in a run on Monday, three hits in four at-bats keeps the lineup moving and the pressure on. Manny Machado added two hits in four at-bats and drove in one run, giving San Diego three lineup contributors each with multiple hits on the night.

  • Jackson Merrill: 3-for-4, 2 RBI
  • Fernando Tatis Jr.: 3-for-4, 0 RBI
  • Manny Machado: 2-for-4, 1 RBI

For Washington, Dylan Crews was the lone bright spot. The outfielder went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs — both of the Nationals' runs came off his bat. Crews gave Washington a puncher's chance in what was otherwise a difficult offensive night against San Diego's pitching.

The Turning Point: Hart's Sixth and the Bullpen Response

The game shifted in the sixth inning. Pivetta had been cruising, but once Hart entered and Crews connected for the home run, a comfortable lead became a one-run game with three innings to play. That's the kind of moment that defines outcomes in close September games. What followed — Rodriguez, Morejon, and Miller each throwing scoreless innings — was the Padres bullpen answering the moment cleanly.

The final score of 3-2 in nine innings reflects how fine the margins were. San Diego won it with starting pitching, timely hitting from Merrill and Machado, and a bullpen that didn't flinch after Hart put the tying run in reach.

What's Next for the Padres

The Padres remain at Petco Park to continue their series against the Washington Nationals. San Diego will look to build on Monday's performance as the regular season moves deeper into September. Lineup production from the top of the order and continued bullpen depth will be themes to watch as the series continues.