Jurickson Profar of the San Diego Padres felt slighted when Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez opted to intentionally walk Luis Arraez in the bottom of the 10th inning on Monday night, setting the stage for Profar’s pivotal moment. He delivered a clutch bases-loaded, two-run single that propelled the Padres to a 7-6 victory. His exuberant celebration stirred controversy and retaliation, culminating in Profar’s decisive grand slam in Tuesday’s 9-7 win over the Nationals.
The Padres aim to complete a three-game sweep of the Nationals on Wednesday afternoon, fueled by Profar’s standout season marked by both achievement and adversity. This includes his timely heroics against the Los Angeles Dodgers and his current surge in All-Star voting with a .317 batting average, 11 home runs, and 54 RBIs. San Diego manager Mike Shildt praised Profar’s warrior spirit and leadership on the team.
While Profar’s offensive contributions have been pivotal, the Padres seek stronger pitching performances, particularly from Dylan Cease (6-6, 4.14 ERA), who faces the Nationals for the first time. Washington counters with rookie left-hander DJ Herz (1-1, 4.50 ERA), looking to rebound after a challenging outing against Colorado.
Despite their recent setbacks against the Padres, the Nationals remain upbeat about their competitive form, having won 11 of their last 15 games and showing resilience in close contests. Veteran outfielder Jesse Winker highlighted their commitment to maintaining a high standard of play despite the bullpen’s recent struggles.
The series finale promises another intense matchup as both teams look to make their mark heading into the midseason stretch.
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