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Baker pushes Padres past Nationals

May 16, 2012 - 5:39 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - John Baker collected three hits, drove in three runs and scored once as the San Diego Padres salvaged a split of a two- game set with the Washington Nationals with a 6-1 win on Tuesday.

Anthony Bass (2-4) tossed eight strong innings in the victory, fanning seven while allowing just five hits, a walk and a run. James Darnell also homered as the Padres snapped a two-game skid.

Stephen Strasburg (3-1) was smacked around for four runs on seven hits and two walks over just four frames. It was Strasburg's shortest outing of the season, and tied for the second-shortest in the young ace's career.

"Our guys knew coming in they were in for a tough one," Padres manager Bud Black said. "I think the key was we laid off some borderline pitches and didn't expand the strike zone. That's how you beat good pitching."

Bryce Harper hit a solo shot for the Nationals, who have lost two of three.

San Diego got to Strasburg immediately. Will Venable, who had four hits, led off the game with a double on a ball that fell between left fielder Roger Bernadina, center fielder Rick Ankiel and shortstop Ian Desmond. Venable came around to score on Yonder Alonso's one-out base hit three batters later.

"Three guys could have caught that ball and two looked at each other. Nobody called it," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "You can't take anything for granted in this game."

With the bases loaded with two outs later in the frame, and following an eight-minute rain delay, Baker's ground ball single up the middle plated Alonso and Chase Headley.

Darnell drove Strasburg's 95 mile-per-hour fastball deep into the left-field seats in the third to push the lead to 4-0.

Baker made it a five-run Padres advantage in the fifth with an RBI single before Harper got the run back in the home half.

A day after his first career homer, Harper doubled his career total with a long blast to right-center that got Washington on the board.

Venable produced the game's final run with a single up the center, allowing Baker to trot home from third.

Game Notes

Harper's home run was Washington's lone extra-base hit...The Nationals host Pittsburgh for two games before welcoming Baltimore for a three-game interleague tilt...San Diego returns home for two-games against the Dodgers and three with the Angels.