The Washington Nationals Thursday night game at PETCO Park didn't begin as Washington hoped and it ended in pretty much the same way. The San Diego Padres took game one of a three game series in convincing fashion 7-3 after the Nationals couldn't help themselves on the base paths and starter Livan Hernandez couldn't hold it together.
Hernandez, who usually has better luck against the Padres, was in consistent all game. His problems started in the very first inning when he gave up a two-run home run to Chase Headley. After that he pitched three scoreless innings until the fifth until he gave up a Chris Denorfia RBI single. Hernandez then fell apart in the sixth-inning where the Padres collected three straight hits and a Nick Hundley fielder's choice to knock Hernandez out of the game. The Nationals bullpen could not stop the bleeding as Sean Burnett walked Anthony Rizzo to load the bases and reliever Cole Kimball walked in another run. The Padres scored three runs in the sixth in total.
Hernandez finished the game only going five-innings giving up six runs on nine hits. His first road win of 2011 continues to be elusive as Hernandez's road record falls to 0-8.
The Nationals offensive production came from an Alex Cora sac fly in the second, a Michael Morse RBI single in the sixth and a Wilson Ramos home run in the ninth. Center fielder Rick Ankiel lead off the game with a walk, stole second and then made a bad decision and got caught stealing third. Jayson Werth came up to bat and hit a triple and then got stranded by the end of the inning. Poor decisions and poor play doomed the Nationals from the start.
The Nationals are now 27-36 on the year.