WASHINGTON —
Ty France knew right away.
“Went through the 5.5 hole, like Coach Gwynn used to do,” France said of his pinch-hit single in the eighth inning that contributed to the Padres’ 4-3 victory over the Nationals on Friday.
France, who played for the late Tony Gwynn at San Diego State, was called up Wednesday and got the hit in his first major league plate appearance.
It was an at-bat that would have made Gwynn proud, more for how France overcame his nerves and an 0-2 hole than for the fact he hit the ball between shortstop and third base the way Gwynn did for so many of his 3,141 major league hits.