Washington Nationals vs San Diego Padres Box Score on Jul 05, 2021

Josh Bell hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning and five Nationals relievers blanked the Padres over the final 5 2/3 innings Monday as visiting Washington scored a 7-5 win in the opener of a four-game series at San Diego.

The Nationals took a 5-0 lead in the first two innings against Joe Musgrove, but the Padres tied it by scoring three times in the third inning and twice in the fourth against Jon Lester.

Wander Suero (1-2) picked up the win after striking out two in a scoreless inning of relief. Former Padres closer Brad Hand earned his 19th save with a perfect ninth as Nationals relievers retired the final 14 hitters they faced and 17 of 20 overall.

Bell's homer to left with one out in the seventh off Tim Hill (5-4) was his 12th long ball of the season. The Nationals added a run in the eighth on doubles by Victor Robles and Alcides Escobar.

Former Padres prospect Trea Turner homered in the first inning to give the Nationals a quick 1-0 lead.

Washington scored four times in the second.

Yan Gomes drew a walk from Musgrove to open the inning and moved to third on a one-out double by Robles. Lester blooped a RBI single to center, and Robles scored on a safety squeeze by Escobar, who also reached first safely.

After Turner singled to load the bases, Lester scored on a sacrifice fly by Juan Soto before Bell singled home Escobar.

After Lester retired the first two hitters in the third, the Padres loaded the bases on an error, a walk and an infield single by Wil Myers. Lester hit Trent Grisham with a pitch to force in the first run, and Ha-Seong Kim followed with a two-run double inside third base.

Fernando Tatis Jr. hit his 27th homer with one out in the fourth, and the Padres tied the game later in the inning on doubles by Jake Cronenworth and Myers.

Musgrove gave up five runs on seven hits and a walk with four strikeouts in five innings. He retired 10 of the last 11 Nationals he faced.

Lester allowed five runs (two earned) on six hits and four walks with two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings.

--Field Level Media