Padres 3, Nationals 1: Tyson Boss and crew figure out the Nats

After dropping a one-run ballgame yesterday, the Padres avoided the sweep today with some solid pitching and opportune offense and took a low-scoring win.

Tyson Ross was the main reason the Padres stayed on top, giving 6.2 extremely solid innings striking out 9 Nats and only giving up a single earned run, a solo HR to Bryce Harper. After today, Ross is looking to cap his May with a sub-3 ERA and 30+ strikeouts.

A cluster of runs for the Padres came in the 5th and 6th innings. Manuel Margot leading off the scoring with an RBI single in the 5th, reaching 2nd base after scoring Freddy Galvis. Then, in the 6th, Christian Villanueva showed signs of life with a 2-run RBI-double, scoring Eric Hosmer and Franchy Cordero, launching a ball far enough into the warning track to avoid an out.

Both Craig Stammen and Brad Hand slammed the door, serving up scoreless outings and ending the game on a sigh-of-relief double play, leaving the score 3-1 Padres.

The Friars will get a day off before starting up a series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. The two teams will claw at each other to avoid the NL West basement, a place that Dodgers fans might want to get used to for the next few weeks.