Song Sung-mun remained on the bench as the San Diego Padres extended their winning streak to four games with a 9-2 victory over the Washington Nationals at Petco Park on Wednesday.
The Korean infielder has not batted since making a one-plate-appearance cameo against Cincinnati on Sept. 2. He has appeared in only two games during that eight-day span. Through 67 games this season, Song is hitting .190 with 23 hits in 121 at-bats, one homer, 16 RBIs, 19 runs, 13 steals and a .541 OPS.
Jackson Merrill powered San Diego's offense with four hits, including his 23rd and 24th home runs. He drove in six runs and scored twice.
Washington took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on Keibert Ruiz's solo homer and Dylan Crews' RBI single. San Diego answered in the bottom half, with Ty France bringing home one run before Merrill's two-run triple put the Padres ahead.
The Padres stretched the lead to 5-2 in the fourth, scoring on Washington starter Jackson Kent's throwing error and a Fernando Tatis Jr. single. Merrill then hit a two-run homer in the fifth, a solo shot in the seventh and an RBI single in the eighth.
Padres starter Walker Buehler gave up two runs over 2 1/3 innings, while five relievers combined to keep Washington scoreless the rest of the way. Kent allowed five runs in three innings and was charged with the loss.
(This article was produced with the assistance of AI. — Ed.)
