Merrill homers twice and drives in 6 runs in the Padres' 9-2 victory over the Nationals

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jackson Merrill homered twice, had a career-high six RBIs and fell a double short of a cycle to help the San Diego Padres beat the Washington Nationals 9-2 on Wednesday after the hottest first-pitch temperature in Petco Park history at 95 degrees.

The previous record was 93 on Sept. 10, 2015, in a game against the Colorado Rockies. Petco Park opened in 2004.

Merrill tied his career high with 24 homers. He's the third Padres player with a triple and two home runs in the same game.

The Padres swept the three-game series and have a four-game winning streak as they fight Arizona for the final NL wild card.

Kyle Hart (1-3) got the win with 2 1/3 shutout innings.

The slumping Nationals have lost seven consecutive games. Since July 27, Washington has the worst record in the majors at 13-29.

Nationals starter Jackson Kent (1-4) took the loss.

Merrill had a two-run triple off the wall in center in the third. His two-run, opposite-field homer in the fourth and solo shot to center in the seventh gave San Diego an 8-2 lead.

Padres starter Walker Buehler went 2 1/3 innings, giving up two runs and three hits while striking out four. He gave up a solo homer to Keibert Ruiz in the third.

Washington manager Blake Butera was ejected by first base umpire Emil Jimenez in the third. Nationals bench coach Michael Johns assumed manager responsibilities.

The Padres have not named a starter for their Friday night game at San Francisco. Giants RHP Anthony Molina (3-0, 2.79) will start the three-game series.

Nationals RHP Cade Cavalli (12-5, 3.12) opens a three-game set Friday night versus the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, who have not named a starter.

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Washington Nationals manager Blake Butera, left, talks with first base umpire Emil Jimenez before being ejected during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill watches his RBI single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill celebrates his two-RBI triple during the third inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill, above, celebrates with teammate Ty France (25) after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Shay Whitcomb's RBI double capped a six-run rally with two out in the eighth inning as the San Francisco Giants beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on Wednesday to complete a series sweep.

With a runner at first and two outs in the eighth, Cade Winquest hit Brett Harris with a pitch and then walked Turner Hill. Bryce Eldridge followed with a two-run single to left to make it 6-3. George Soriano (6-5) replaced Winquest, and Jonah Cox hit an infield single that drove in another run. Jung Hoo Lee tied the game with a two-run double off the wall in right and scored the winning run on Whitcomb’s double to center.

Eldridge drove in three runs and extended his on-base streak to 18 games.

Left-hander Matt Wilkinson (1-3) pitched two shutout innings for his first major-league win. Trent Harris worked a scoreless ninth for his first career save.

Rookie Leo Bernal hit a three-run homer over the right field wall off starter Blade Tidwell to give the Cardinals a 4-1 lead in the third inning.

St. Louis starter Andre Pallante held the Giants to a run on five hits in five-plus innings. The right-hander struck out four and did not issue a walk.

Giants first baseman Rafael Devers did not play Wednesday. His games-played streak ended at 309 games, 236 of which came with San Francisco and the first 73 with Boston.

This marked the eighth consecutive game between the Cardinals and Giants that was decided by one run, including San Francisco’s 5-4 win in 11 innings Monday and its 2-1 victory Tuesday.

The Cardinals and LHP Matthew Liberatore (5-14, 5.57 ERA) host the White Sox on Friday night.

The Giants and RHP Anthony Molina (3-0, 2.79 ERA) host the Padres on Friday night.

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante (53) throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

San Francisco Giants' Bryce Eldridge hits an RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

St. Louis Cardinals' Leo Bernal watches his home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

San Francisco Giants' Jonah Cox hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)

San Francisco Giants' Jung Hoo Lee (51) hits a single during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in San Francisco, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Nic Coury)