Harper homer, Taylor’s GW-RBI lifts Nats past Padres 2-1
WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper hit his NL leading 15th home run of the season and Michael Taylor’s one-out double in the ninth scored the game-winning run as the Washington Nationals defeated the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Juan Soto, the youngest player in the majors, reached base in all four atbats in his second career start. The 19-year-old led off the ninth with his third walk, took second on Wilmer Difo’s groundout and scored on Taylor’s hit off the center-field wall against Matt Strahm (0-2).
Taylor also threw out a runner at the plate for the final out in the sixth inning with the score 1-1.
Sean Doolittle (2-2) struck out the side in the ninth. Harper’s blast, his second in two games, went an estimated 433 feet to straightaway center. It was the only run allowed by Padres starter Eric Lauer over six innings.
Washington has won two straight after getting swept in a three-game series at home by the Dodgers.
Jeremy Hellickson held San Diego to one run and five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He threw one pitch after Jose Pirela’s one-out double in the sixth before exiting with an undisclosed injury.
Reliever Wander Suero replaced Hellickson and recorded one out before surrendering Franmil Reyes’ single to center. Catcher Pedro Severino fielded Taylor’s throw and tagged Pirela at the plate, but the runner was initially ruled safe. Washington challenged the play and replay overturned the call.
Lauer, making his sixth career start, scattered six hits and struck out seven.
Soto singled in the second inning, but was picked off first base. He hit a three-run homer in Monday’s 10-2 rout over San Diego and reached base six times in eight plate appearances over the two starts.
Franchy Cordero homered for the Padres. TRAINER’S ROOM PADRES: OF Hunter Renfroe (right elbow) was 1-for-3 while playing nine innings in right Monday for Triple-A El Paso. He’s hitting .150 (3 for 20) during his rehabilitation assignment . ... C Austin Hedges (right elbow) also played nine innings for El Paso on Monday, going 0 for 3 with a walk in his first rehab game . ... Manager Andy Green said OF Wil Myers (strained oblique) has yet to resume baseball activities. Myers was placed on the disabled list April 29 and has played in only 10 games this season.