Bell, Soto Go Deep On Nationals That Traded Them Away

What better feeling than to hit your first home run on a new ball club? Hitting one against the team that traded you away almost two weeks ago in a blockbuster deal.

The Padres got a desperately needed win against the Nationals Saturday night. Despite being a 2-1 squeaker, the team still marked themselves with the win at the end of the day. A win is a win. The Padres offense still does not look right at this time, but it was just enough for the team to get through.

Yet again, the Padres were trailing 1-0 after Joe Musgrove gave up a solo shot to Lane Thomas in the second, giving Thomas his 12th long ball this season. On the mound for the Nationals, Josiah Gray came in this game with a high ERA, but looked unstoppable for a good stretch. Go figure. The Padres have been making pitchers with high ERA's in high amounts of innings pitched look like Cy Young caliber pitchers.

There was however a sigh of relief as not only did the former National Josh Bell tie the game with his very own solo home run, it was needed in the worst way for him. Bell tied the game up in the fifth inning and you could tell as he was trotting around the bases, it felt great for him to get that power in Petco Park that was long awaited.

Soto, the biggest acquisition in the deadline, had himself his second home run as a Padre that brought them a 2-1 lead in the seventh.

Hader, who Melvin stated before the game is taking a break from closer duties, did not appear in this save situation, and rightfully so. Instead, we saw flame throwing Luis Garcia getting the job done as he only allowed one hit that put a stump to the Nationals rally. On the final play of the game, pinch-hitting Maikel Franco grounded out to first baseman Brandon Drury. Drury with the heads up play let the ball bounce in front of him to force the runner to get to second. Once one out was recorded to Kim at short, the exchange was thrown to third as Kim and Machado worked on getting Lane Thomas out on the base paths, resulting in a victory.

Despite lasting six innings of quality pitching, Musgrove had a no-decision in a tied 1-1 game at the time. Instead, highly-touted prospect Adrian Morejon got the win and more importantly, the team got one. Time to take the finale.