Villanueva’s two-run double lifts Padres
WASHINGTON — Christian Villanueva hit a tworun double, Tyson Ross pitched into the seventh inning and the San Di- ego Padres defeated the Washington Nationals 3-1 Wednesday to salvage the fi- nale of a three-game series.
Ross (4-3) didn’t allow a runner past second base until the seventh, struck out nine and yielded one run in 6 2/3 innings. Brad Hand recorded the final five outs for his 15th save, escaping a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth by inducing Spencer Kieboom to ground into a game-ending double play.
San Diego took a 1-0
SD: 21-30 overall Wash: 26-22 overall
lead when Manuel Margot singled in Freddy Galvis with two outs in the fifth. The Padres nearly added to the lead a batter later, but Bryce Harper’s diving catch in right-center robbed Ross of a hit.
An inning later, Villanueva lofted a two-out fly to right that glanced off Harper’s glove in a play originally scored an error but later changed to a double. It allowed two runs to score and ended Washington starter Erick Fedde’s season debut.
It was a largely promising outing for Fedde (01), who had a 9.39 ERA in three starts last season. Washington recalled Fedde from Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday to fill a spot in the rotation created when the Nationals played a doubleheader Saturday.
Fedde allowed three runs and four hits while striking out six in 5 2/3 innings.
Matt Adams had three of Washington’s seven hits, including a solo homer.