The Padres will look to get their hitters going against the Nationals

San Diego’s bats, which have struggled all season, can come alive Padres enters the second game of a three-game series against the host Washington Nationals on Wednesday

San Diego won the four homers in Tuesday’s series opener, 7-4, and May 3-5. won two games in a row for the first time since THE Padres defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-0 on Sunday

Outfielder Juan Soto, in his second straight with Washington after being traded to San Diego last August, spoke to some of his former teammates before the game and told them he was going to hit a home run, and he did.

Soto went 3-for-4 with his ninth home run of the season while finishing with an RBI, a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored. He received a standing ovation They are national Park crowd before the first batter

“Definitely last year was a little more emotional,” Soto said. “This year has been emotional. But it’s been more of a happy one. I feel better instead of being sad about being traded.”

Xander Bogaerts, Brandon Dixon and Jake Cronenworth also homered Padres, who, after losing their last five, can win a series on Wednesday. Yu Darvish got the win in six innings and Josh Hader worked his ninth for his 12th save

“We know we can do those things,” San Diego manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s good to see us back two games in a row.”

Padres Pitcher Ryan Weathers (1-2, 3.42 ERA) faces right-hander Trevor Williams (1-2, 4.26) on Wednesday

Weathers, who was recalled from Triple-A El Paso last week to take over the rotation spot for Seth Lugo (right calf strain), has appeared in six games with four starts. In his last start on May 14, Weathers gave up four runs and four walks in 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the Dodgers.

Weathers won his only previous start against Washington in 2021 despite allowing four runs in 5 1/3 innings.

Williams went six innings and allowed three runs on five hits in last Thursday’s loss to the Marlins. He walked one, struck out five and walked one.

“He threw the ball well” They are national manager Dave Martinez said. “He kept us in the ballgame all year. They got some hits and gave up some runs. But other than that, man, he threw the ball really well.

A native of San Diego, Williams is 0-1 with a 4.96 ERA in four appearances (three starts) against the Padres. San Diego designated hitter Matt Carpenter is hitting .286 with three homers and six RBIs against Williams.

On Tuesday, Washington rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the fifth inning, but the batter allowed four runs.

Lane Thomas and former Padre CJ Abrams — acquired in the Soto trade — found a home against each other in the They are national

“It’s exciting,” Abrams, 22, said. “It’s fun just playing against your former teammates and friends. It didn’t go our way, but we’ll get them (Wednesday).”

Thomas extended his career-high hitting streak to 19 games. For the streak, Thomas is hitting .346 (27-78) with three doubles, one triple, six homers, 13 RBIs, four walks and 17 runs scored.

Another player included in the Soto trade — left-hander MacKenzie Gore — started They are national and went 4 2/3 innings allowing three runs on seven hits with no decision

— Field Level Media