Padres sweep Nats 9-2 — Merrill explodes; off day, Angels Friday

Swept on the West Coast

The San Diego Padres beat the Washington Nationals 9-2 on Wednesday, Sep. 9 at Petco Park and completed a three-game sweep.

Jackson Merrill did the damage: 4-for-5, two home runs, a triple, and six RBI. San Diego scored in five different innings and finished with 16 hits. Kyle Hart (1-3) earned the win with 2⅓ perfect relief innings after Walker Buehler exited in the third.

Washington’s bright spot was Keibert Ruiz, who led off the third with his 10th homer of the year. Jackson Kent (1-4) was tagged for five runs on eight hits in three-plus innings. The Nationals managed only four hits total.

The loss is Washington’s seventh straight. The club sits 67-81. The Padres are 78-68.

Thursday is an off day. Homestand opens Friday, Sep. 11 vs the Los Angeles Angels at Nationals Park (6:45 p.m. ET). Confirm first pitch and the NATS window on the club board. The Nationals page is the hub.

*Thursday morning desk, Sep. 10, 2026. Wednesday box from Reuters/AP and CBS Sports.*