Jackson Merrill homers twice, Padres sweep Nationals
Credit: CBS Sports
The San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals played the finale of this three-game series at Petco Park.
San Diego was looking for the sweep after taking Labor Day’s game and Tuesday’s game, each by one run.
Walker Buehler took the mound for the Padres, looking to build on his 8-6 record and ERA of 4.56. Buehler has posted a solid 4.00 ERA when pitching at home in 2026. Left-hander Jackson Kent started the game for the Nats. Kent has thrown to a 5.55 ERA in his 24 1/3 Major League innings this year.
Buehler’s day ended abruptly
Buehler retired the first six Nationals he’d face, including striking out the first four men of the game. However, to begin the third, Buehler allowed a solo home run to catcher Keibert Ruiz.
🔟 for kei !!! pic.twitter.com/RYbqPw8412
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 9, 2026
After the home run to Ruiz, four straight Nationals reached base to put the Nationals up 2-0 with the bases loaded and no outs. Buehler induced an infield fly to Andrés Chaparro, and this is where his day ended. Manager Craig Stammen went out to the mound, and it appeared that Buehler would stay in the game after the visit; however, this was not the case. This would be the second mound visit of the inning for the Padres, and therefore Buehler would need to be removed from the game.
Kyle Hart, who was warming up, had to enter the game. Hart got out of the inning unscathed, getting CJ Abrams to strike out and Yohandy Morales to fly out and end the inning.
Padres take the lead
A single by Fernando Tatis Jr. and a walk by Manny Machado put them on base with two outs for Ty France. France hit a grounder through the 5.5 hole, plating Tatis Jr. as the first Padres run of the day.
Jackson Merrill then tripled on a ball that center fielder Jacob Young almost made a fantastic play on. This scored Machado and France, giving San Diego the lead in the third.
Lightning with a little bit of thunder. pic.twitter.com/XBhoxWVZbQ
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 9, 2026
Extending it more
The Padres tack on a few more runs thanks to some nice fundamental baseball. Austin Hays reached on a single, then Samad Taylor bunted for a base hit, in which there was a throwing error by pitcher Kent, allowing Hays to score and Taylor to advance to second.
The Nationals are a disaster
Samad Taylor puts the ball in play and it’s 4-2 #padres pic.twitter.com/lDZI7qvpFw
— Padres Central (@PadresCentral_) September 9, 2026
Jase Bowen laid down a successful sacrifice bunt to move Taylor 90 feet to third base. With the infield in, Tatis Jr. hit a ground ball single into the 5.5 hole again, scoring Taylor.
It’s gettin’ hot in here. pic.twitter.com/SldxZ8dVfr
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 9, 2026
Merrill goes oppo
France led off the bottom of the fifth with a double down the line. Jackson Merrill immediately followed that with his 23rd home run of the season, driving in his third and fourth runs of the day.
Don’t let The Kid get hot. pic.twitter.com/Z6p8V4KXnr
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 9, 2026
The Kid does it again
Jackson Merrill takes a first-pitch cutter into the bullpens in left-center for his second home run of the game.
WHAT DID WE SAY?? pic.twitter.com/gtXj8K3PWM
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 9, 2026
Nine runs for the Padres
San Diego tacks on another with a Jackson Merrill single, scoring Xander Bogaerts in the eighth. Merrill with a four-hit game, while driving in six. That marks a career high of 6 RBI for Merrill.
Bullpen holds it down
After the starter Buehler left the game with an out in the third inning, the bullpen was responsible for throwing 6 2/3 scoreless innings to finish the game.
Kyle Hart went 2 1/3 perfect innings, striking out one. David Morgan tossed 1/3 of a frame. Yuki Matsui threw a 1-2-3 sixth inning. Wandy Peralta followed that with two scoreless innings, striking out two. Griffin Canning closed it out with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Recap
The Padres sweep the Nationals at home, taking the season series 4-2. Kyle Hart received the win, his first of 2026.
San Diego improves to 10 games above .500 and are now 78-68 on the season. With the loss, Washington falls to 67-81.
The Padres outhit the Nationals 16-4. Tatis Jr., France, Merrill, Hays and Taylor all had multi-hit games.
Off to San Francisco
The Padres will head to The Bay to take on the Giants for a three-game weekend series starting on Friday night, after the day off on Thursday. Robbie Ray will start for the Padres against his former team, with 24-year-old Anthony Molina making the start for the Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. PST on Apple TV.
Angel grew up a San Diego sports fan, following the Padres, SDSU athletics, San Diego FC, as well as the Chargers. He is currently a student at San Diego State University, majoring in Journalism with an emphasis in Public relations.