Padres wrap up series against Nationals with first Sunday win of the season

That was just a fun baseball game, and a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Sundays hadn't been all that pleasant for Padres fans this year, but today the team snagged their first Sunday win of the season (!), appropriately on Fathers Day. The victory was their second straight dominant showing over the Nationals, and gave San Diego a split of the four-game series after dropping consecutive three-game sets to the middling Rockies and Marlins.

The Padres found themselves in a hole as early as a team can possibly find itself in a hole when Michael Taylor lined the very first pitch of the game past Melvin Upton, Jr, and over the wall in left field. However, just as they did Saturday night, the Friars answered back immediately to even it back up at ones after one inning. They took their first lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run double from the eternally endearing Adam Rosales, but it was short-lived, as Drew Pomeranz allowed two more solo homers in the very next inning - one to Danny Espinosa, and Taylor's second.

San Diego took the lead yet again in the bottom of the fifth, and this time they did not relinquish it. In another parallel with the night before, they were aided by an error by Washington's pitcher. With Yangervis Solarte on first base after a leadoff walk, Upton hit a slow grounder that Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez would have been wise to put in his pocket. Instead he chucked it errantly past first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, allowing Solarte and Upton to scoot over to third and second, respectively. Solarte then came across on a long sac fly from resurgent catcher Derek Norris, then Upton gave the Friars a two-run cushion, coming around on a single up the middle off the bat of Alexei Ramirez. Gonzalez limited the damage with help from his catcher, Jose Lobaton, who nabbed Ramirez straying off first after Rosales struck out.

The Padres tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Ryan Schimpf recorded his third major league hit -- his first single -- and came around on Matt Kemp's forty-seventh RBI, but it would prove unnecessary as San Diego's 'pen was lights-out. The trio of Carlos Villanueva, Ryan Buchter, and Fernando Rodney made quick work of Washington's batters in the final three innings, with only Buchter allowing a hit, a meager single by Taylor. Rodney tied a ribbon on the day by striking out the side for his fourteenth save of the year. He still has yet to allow a single earned run after 25.1 innings over 25 appearances.

Following the game, the Padres hopped on a flight to Baltimore, where they'll enjoy an off-day to catch their collective breath prior to taking on the Orioles on Tuesday and Wednesday. From there they'll head to Cincinnati for four games against the floundering Reds before returning home.