SAN DIEGO, May 29 (UPI) -- Josh Willingham staked Washington to an early lead with a three-run homer Friday and the Nationals survived a late comeback bid to defeat San Diego 5-3.
Washington took a three-run lead into the ninth, but closer Matt Capps loaded the bases with nobody out and Chris Denorfia singled in a run.
Capps, however, struck out Matt Stairs and Will Venable and then got David Eckstein to ground out. It was the 17th save for Capps, who preserved the victory for John Lannan (2-2).
Willingham hit his homer in the third and Ian Desmond added a solo shot in the seventh. Desmond drove in another run in the ninth with a squeeze bunt.
The Padres lost their second straight after winning four in a row. Lannan allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits over seven innings.
The loss went to Clayton Richard (4-3), who gave up four runs on four hits in seven frames.
