SAN DIEGO -- Ryan Zimmerman's opposite-field homer broke an eighth-inning tie Thursday night, sending the Nationals to a 2-1, series-opening victory over the Padres at Petco Park.
With two outs and the bases empty in the eighth, Padres reliever Kirby Yates grooved a 1-1 fastball that Zimmerman crushed 414 feet, per Statcast™, onto the home-run deck in right field. His 29th home run made a winner out of Edwin Jackson against his former club, and it moved the Nationals 14 games above the second-place Marlins in the National League East.