Joey Meneses hits an RBI single in the 10th inning to lead Nationals past Astros 5-4

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joey Meneses hit an RBI single in the 10th inning after Ryan Pressly blew the save in the ninth for Houston and the Washington Nationals came back to defeat the Houston Astros 5-4 on Saturday.

Meneses led off the 10th against Seth Martinez (1-2) and lined his first pitch to the wall in right-center, scoring Nasim Nuñez from second base with the winning run on his third hit of the game.

“In that particular moment, I was just trying to focus on getting a good pitch and taking a good swing in that at-bat," said Meneses, who began the day hitting .182. "If you keep thinking about everything, it’s just overwhelming.”

Washington had tied it with two runs in the ninth against Houston, which has lost 11 of its last 12 extra-inning games.

“Yeah, they’re not easy,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “You find yourself with an opportunity to win the game, and you have the guys that you want in the game, and the fact that you can’t close this game, it’s hard to swallow.”

The Nationals won on a day when players from the 2019 World Series champions were on hand to celebrate the five-year anniversary of their seven-game defeat of the Astros.

“It was definitely magic. Played a lot of games like that in ’19," manager Dave Martinez said. "We struggled early scoring runs. We were 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position. Then we came through at the end.”

Nick Senzel reached on catcher's interference by Yainer Diaz and went to third on CJ Abrams' double off Pressly, who was in after usual closer Josh Hader pitched four times in the previous six days. Jesse Winker's single to center tied it at 4. It was the sixth blown save for the Astros in eight chances.

“Weird catcher interference to start the inning,” Espada said. “After that, missing locations. Leaving some pitches in the middle of the plate. Just better execution and we’ll get some swings and misses and get out of that inning.”

Espada said Hader was not available.

Kyle Finnegan (1-2) pitched a scoreless 10th for the win. He was helped when right fielder Lane Thomas raced to catch Alex Bregman's pop up in foul territory and then threw Jose Altuve out at home.

“I know he ran a long way, but Lane’s really good about getting behind the ball and making a really strong throw and accurate throw,” Martinez said. "I thought he did a great job.”

Houston trailed 2-1 entering the seventh before getting RBI singles from Kyle Tucker and Jeremy Peña. Tucker added another RBI single in the eighth to make it 4-2.

Ronel Blanco, who tossed a no-hitter to start the season and came in with a 0.86 ERA, went six innings, giving up two runs and five hits. Blanco allowed baserunners in four of six innings and gave up his first extra-base hit of the season, Abrams’ homer leading off the first for Washington.

Nationals starter Trevor Williams allowed a first-inning run and gave up three hits. He struck out four without a walk.

Williams retired the final 13 batters he faced, beginning with Chas McCormick, who struck out and was called for batter’s interference on the play, negating a stolen base by Pena and ending the second inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Espada said LHP Framber Valdez (left elbow soreness) threw about 30 pitches in a bullpen session Saturday and “looked pretty good.” Valdez could return to the rotation without a rehab start.

UP NEXT

Houston RHP Cristian Javier (2-0, 1.54) starts Sunday against rookie LHP Mitchell Parker (1-0, 3.60), who'll make his first start at Nationals Park.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez, center, holds up the 2019 World Series trophy during a pre-game ceremony to celebrate the five year anniversary of the Nationals win over the Houston Astros in the 2019 World Series before a baseball game between the two teams at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals pitcher Trevor Williams throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals pitcher Trevor Williams throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Houston Astros first base José Abreu, left, tags Washington Nationals Thomas for the second out at first base during the first inning of a baseball game at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, left, rounds third base and is greeted by Nationals third base coach Ricky Gutierrez after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' Joey Meneses, center left, is mobbed by teammates after driving in the game winning run in the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' Joey Meneses, center, celebrates with teammates after driving in the game winning run in the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' Joey Meneses, right, is showered with bubble gum and mobbed by teammates after driving in the game winning run in the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Washington Nationals' Joey Meneses runs to first base celebrating his 10th inning hit to drive in the game-winning run to defeat the Houston Astros 5-4 in a inning baseball game at Nationals Park, Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

PHOENIX (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth hit back-to-back homers, Dylan Cease pitched 6 2/3 strong innings and the San Diego Padres won their third game in a row, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-1 on Friday night.

Manny Machado hit a two-run homer. Cronenworth finished with three extra-base hits, adding two doubles.

The Padres had a big offensive game on the same night they learned they might be adding another good hitter. San Diego is close to acquiring two-time batting champion Luis Arráez in a deal with the Marlins.

“I think it's great — you're always looking for more offense and a left-handed bat to balance out the lineup,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “But listen, nothing's official. We'll leave it at that.”

The Diamondbacks have lost 10 straight series openers after beating the Colorado Rockies on opening day.

D-backs pitcher Slade Cecconi (1-2) retired the first nine batters he faced, but ran into trouble in the fourth. Jurickson Profar walked to start the inning and Tatis launched a shot to left-center — his seventh homer of the season.

Cronenworth followed with another homer to make it 3-0 and rookie Jackson Merrill broke an 0-for-20 stretch at the plate with a one-out RBI double for a 4-0 lead.

Cronenworth had a down 2023 season, but has looked much more like the hitter who was an All-Star in 2021 and 2022 through the first month of this season. He's batting .279 with six homers and 25 RBIs.

It was Cronenworth’s second straight game with a homer. He hit a grand slam in the team’s 6-2 victory over the Reds on Wednesday.

“It's the right approach with the right swing,” Shildt said. “He's married both. He's driving the ball to all different parts of the field and not trying to do to much.”

Cecconi didn't make it out of the fifth, giving up six runs over 4 1/3 innings.

The Padres' three-homer outburst provided plenty of support for Cease (4-2), the hard-throwing right-hander who gave up just one run on three hits while striking out eight. He didn't allow a walk.

“I think my fastball command was a lot better, which is really a lot of the battle,” Cease said. “When I'm getting my fastball where it needs to go, it opens up a lot of stuff.”

Machado made it 7-0 in the fifth with a two-run homer to left center off reliever Matt Bowman. The scorched line drive came off Machado's bat at 111.7 mph.

The sliding D-backs — defending National League champions — have lost 10 of their past 15 games and fell to 14-19 for the season.

“We got beat tonight,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "We got out-managed, we got out-pitched, we got out-hit, we got out-coached. We've got to find a way to get the job done and play our type of baseball. That's the bottom line.

“We're grinding away. We're trying.”

Arizona finished with just three hits. Eugenio Suárez had an RBI single in the fifth.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Diamondbacks: Lovullo told reporters that closer Paul Sewald (oblique) and OF Alex Thomas (hamstring) could return to the active roster as soon as Tuesday against the Reds.

UP NEXT

The D-backs will throw RHP Brandon Pfaadt (1-1, 4.63 ERA) while the Padres will counter with RHP Michael King (2-3, 5.00 ERA) on Saturday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, left, celebrates his double as San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, front right, of South Korea, and umpire Phil Cuzzi (10) look for the baseball during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt watches the action on the field during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, May 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado (13) rounds the bases after hitting a two run home run as Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker, left, pauses at first base during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Matt Bowman, center, rubs up a new baseball after giving up a two-run home run to San Diego Padres' Manny Machado, left, during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado points to the sky as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, right, slides safely into second base with a double as San Diego Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, of South Korea, applies a late tag during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., right, celebrates his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Padres' Manny Machado (13) during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 3, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)