Sunday was full of good news for the San Diego Padres.
Not only did they win their first series in two weeks with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the visiting Kansas City Royals, they saw star center fielder Jackson Merrill return from the 7-day concussion list.
San Diego will try for a third straight victory on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals.
Sidelined after a hard tag on the head in a June 14 loss at Arizona, Merrill didn’t look rusty in his return. He doubled to start a two-run rally in the seventh inning and was robbed of a two-run homer in the eighth when Jac Caglianone made a leaping catch at the wall in right-center field.
“I like to be active all the time,” Merrill said. “Slow was tough but I’m back. I’m ready to go and I’m excited.”
It was the second time this year Merrill had been forced out of the lineup due to injury. He missed a month early in the season with a balky hamstring. After going 1-for-4 on Sunday, Merrill’s batting .303 with five homers and 26 RBIs on the season.
Jose Iglesias had a game-tying, two-run single in the seventh inning and a walkoff fielder’s choice grounder in the ninth to give the Padres their first back-to-back wins since they won three in a row June 1-3.
“You know things are challenging but if you keep doing things the right way, you’re going to give yourself the best chance to shake hands at the end,” San Diego manager Mike Shildt said.
Shildt will tap right-hander Stephen Kolek (3-2, 3.59 ERA) for the start in the series opener. Kolek last worked on Wednesday night, receiving a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 4-3 setback. Kolek allowed three runs off six hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings.
This will be Kolek’s first career start against Washington. He gave up two unearned runs last year in an inning of relief.
The Nationals will counter with left-hander Mitchell Parker (4-8, 4.59), who’s coming off a 3-1 loss at home against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night. Parker permitted one run on six hits in six innings, walking none and striking out eight.
He was tagged for six runs in three innings last year in his only career outing against the Padres in a loss.
Washington made the bus trip down Interstate 5 to San Diego after falling 13-7 Sunday at the Dodgers. The Nationals hung around the .500 mark for a while before dropping 11 straight games to 32-46. Sunday’s outcome was their 13th loss in 15 games.
Washington brings some hot bats into the series. Nathaniel Lowe has homered three times in the past two games, and C.J. Abrams is batting a career-high .277. Wood and Abrams were acquired three years ago from the Padres in the Juan Soto trade.
“There’s a lot of fight in this group,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “That’s what I like about them. We’ve got to focus on tomorrow night. We’ve got to play another good team.”