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Headley homers as Padres down Nats

Jun 10, 2011 - 7:00 AM San Diego, CA (Sports Network) - Chase Headley finished with a pair of hits, including a two-run homer, as the San Diego Padres defeated the Washington Nationals, 7-3, to start a four-game series.

Aaron Harang (7-2) went six solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits and three walks for the Padres, who have won five of their last seven games.

After tearing up the Pacific Coast League, the Padres called up first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who was acquired in the five-player trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez to Boston over the offseason. The 21-year-old registered a triple, drew two walks and scored in his major league debut.

"It was awesome. It was a dream come true," Rizzo said.

Michael Morse had two hits and an RBI for the Nationals, who have dropped two straight. Jayson Werth returned to the lineup from a right ankle injury and went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Livan Hernandez (3-8) suffered the loss for Washington. He gave up six runs on nine hits and struck out four over 5 1/3 innings.

"It was not a good game," Nationals manager Jim Riggleman said. "The effort and intensity were there but we had a couple of things happen."

Headley started the scoring with a two-run homer in the first, but the Nationals got one back in the second.

Morse and Danny Espinosa each singled while Ivan Rodriguez drew a walk to load the bases for Alex Cora's sacrifice fly to score Morse.

Rizzo belted his first major league hit to deep center in the fifth for a leadoff triple. After Alberto Gonzalez and Harang grounded out, Chris Denofia came up big with a single to plate Rizzo.

The Nationals came back to score another run during their next at-bat though. Werth drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Morse's single up the middle.

During the bottom half, however, the Padres got the run back and some. Headley and Ryan Ludwick kicked it off with back-to-back singles while Brad Hawpe grounded one through the right side to bring around Headley.

Ludwick was called out at home on a Nick Hundley grounder to short but the bases were jammed again when Sean Burnett walked Rizzo. Burnett was replaced by Cole Kimbell, who didn't do much better as he walked Kyle Phillips to bring in a run and give the Padres a 6-2 lead. Logan Forsythe followed with a sacrifice fly.

San Diego picked up a run in the seventh after Ludwick scampered home on Henry Rodriguez's wild pitch. Wilson Ramos had a pinch-hit home run in the ninth to make up the final score.

Game Notes

It was Headley's second home run of season. His first came on April 2...Hernandez is 0-6 in nine career starts at Petco Park...It was Harang's first career victory against the Nationals. He is now 1-2 over seven starts...Rizzo hit .365 with 16 homers and knocked in 63 runs over 52 games with Triple-A Tucson this season...The Padres made the following roster moves on Thursday: recalled outfielder Will Venable from Tucson, optioned outfielder Aaron Cunningham to Tucson, designated outfielder Eric Patterson for assignment, placed right-handed pitcher Luke Gregerson on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 7, and recalled right-handed pitcher Evan Scribner from Tucson.