Sunday Fun Day continued for the Padres as they came from behind for the 5-4 win. Jorge Cantu one-out double led to Ryan Ludwick’s game winning RBI as the Padres were able to get hits in key situations in the fifth and ninth innings. The win will send them to Atlanta on a two game win streak heading into the Memorial Day holiday. Here is how they persevered in our nation’s capital over the weekend.

May 27^th, 2011 Nationals 2, Padres 1

WP Drew Storen (4-1) 1.1IP 1H 1R 1ER 0BB 3K 1HR

LP Mike Adams (2-1) 0.0IP 1H 1R 1ER 0BB 0K 1HR

The first night on the road was not treating the Padres as well as it had last trip. The offense had been struggling all night, compiling just two hits and no runs. Clayton Richard was lined up for a loss on what might have been his best start all season, surrendering only one run and just three hits. The fifth inning solo home run by Danny Espinosa had proved to be the difference of the game through eight.

Shortstop Jason Bartlett let Clayton off the hook when roped one down the left field line into the first row for his first homer of the year. The hit also lost the win for John Lannon, who was even better than Richard allowing only two hits in 7 1/3 innings, no runs and a couple walks.

But all was forgotten in the ninth. The Padres sent in their unhittable setup man Mike Adams with a tie game in the ninth. Adams threw one pitch to Mike Morse, who creamed the ball off the back wall in the visitor’s bullpen in left field for the walk-off win. The win snapped the Nationals’ five game losing streak, and started the Padres road trip off with a loss.

May 28^th, 2011 Padres 5, Nationals 4

WP Tim Stauffer (1-3) 7IP 4H 1R 1ER 4BB 4K 1HR

LP Jordan Zimmerman (2-6) 6IP 5H 2R 2ER 1BB 4K 0HR

S Heath Bell (11) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 2K 0HR

As the old saying goes, “11^th time’s a charm”. And it was for Opening Day starter Tim Stauffer, earning his first win of the season on Saturday. Stauffer pitched very well over seven innings, allowing only four hits and a solo homer to Lance Nix to lead off the seventh. He did walk four batters but his defense turned backed him up, turning three double plays.

Blake Tekotte got his first career start and did not disappoint. He doubled in the second inning for his first career hit. And then with Chase Headley on first in the top of the fourth, he tripled past right fielder Jayson Werth in right field for his first career RBI. He then came in and scord his first career run on Kyle Phillips opposite field single to left to put the Padres up 2-0.

Logan Forsythe also collected his first career hit in the top of the ninth with two outs when he singled to left field. Chase Headley was thrown out at home on the play to end the inning.

Heath Bell pitched a perfect ninth with a couple strikeouts for his 11^th save of the season. It was the Padres 11^th straight game of scoring 3 runs or less.

May 29^th, 2011 Padres 3, Nationals 1

WP Luke Gregerson (2-1) 2IP 3H 0R 0ER 1BB 0K 0HR

LP Drew Storen (4-2) 1IP 2H 1R 1ER 0BB 1K 0HR

S Heath Bell (12) 1IP 0H 0R 0ER 0BB 2K 0HR

A man that resembled a mustacheless Jorge Cantu came up big for the Padres, hitting a one out double in the ninth pinch-hitting for Luke Gregerson. After a Jason Bartlett groundout, Ryan Ludwick hit a grounder up the middle that deflected off Ian Desmond’s glove and Cantu scored all the way from second, sliding under the catcher’s tag to give the Padres the lead. Ludwick finished 3-4 with two RBI, his 31^st and 32^nd of the year. The comeback win gave the Padres their first series win since beating Colorado twice May 13^th-15^th.

The Nationals jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning when leadoff man Roger Bernardina reached on a grounder to first that was misplayed by Brad Hawpe. Bernardina then stole second and reached third base on Ian Desmond’s bunt single. Jayson Werth then singled to right field, scoring Bernardina and sending Desmond to third.

Lance Nix then lofted a fly ball to shallow left that was caught by Ryan Ludwick. Ludwick then threw home and catcher Kyle Phillips appeared to get the tag on Desmond before he crossed the plate but the umpire called him safe to give the Nationals a 2-0 lead.

The Padres answered back starting with Ludwick’s RBI single, scoring Jason Bartlett in the top of the fourth inning.

The next inning they loaded the bases with two outs for Brad Hawpe After fouling several off he drew the count full before fighting off an inside pitch to shallow center field, scoring two to give the Padres  a 3-2 lead. Chase Headley, batting right against the reliever Slaten, doubled down the line into left to score Ludwick and put the Padres ahead, 4-0.

Washington got another back in the bottom half of the fifth with Rick Ankiel’s one-out pinch-hit single. After stealing second, Ankiel scored on Bernardina’s double to right center. Bernardina was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple and Ian Desmond struck out looking to end the inning.

Jayson Werth scored the next inning on Mike Morse’s grounder to Headley at third. Headley went home with the throw but Werth had it beat by far, running on contact.

The Padres rallied to go ahead in the ninth as stated earlier allowing Heath Bell to collect his 12^th save in 13 tries. Bell struck out two to give the Padres the win.