Padres Complete Sweep of Nationals 8-5

Kyle Higashioka homered twice, including his first career grand slam, to help the San Diego Padres secure an 8-5 victory over the Washington Nationals, completing a sweep of their contentious three-game series. Higashioka, who was acquired in the trade that sent Juan Soto to the New York Yankees, drove in six runs and recorded three hits during the game. Dylan Cease delivered a stellar performance, pitching seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts and allowing only one hit. The Padres held an 8-0 lead until the ninth inning, when the Nationals rallied to score five runs but ultimately fell short. Jurickson Profar, involved in a previous benches-clearing incident, extended his hitting and on-base streaks, contributing to the Padres' offensive efforts. The sweep has positioned the Padres favorably in the National League playoff race.