The San Diego bats — struggling to get going all season — may be coming alive as the Padres enter the second game of a three-game series against the host Washington Nationals on Wednesday.
San Diego smacked four homers in a 7-4 win in the series opener on Tuesday and has won two straight games for the first time since May 3-5.
The Padres blanked the Boston Red Sox 7-0 on Sunday.
Outfielder Juan Soto, playing his second series back in Washington after being traded away to San Diego last August, spoke with some of his former teammates before the game, told them he was going to hit a home run and did.
Soto finished 3-for-4 with his ninth home run of the season while finishing with an RBI, a walk, a stolen base and two runs.
He received a standing ovation from the Nationals Park crowd before his first at-bat.
“Definitely last year was a little bit more emotional,” Soto said.
But it was more like happy.
I feel more happy instead of being sad about being traded.”
Xander Bogaerts, Brandon Dixon and Jake Cronenworth also homered for the Padres, who can clinch a series win Wednesday after losing their past five.
Yu Darvish went six innings for the win and Josh Hader worked the ninth for his 12th save.
“We know we’re capable of doing these things,” San Diego manager Bob Melvin said.
“Good to see us backing up two games in a row.”
Padres left-hander Ryan Weathers (1-2, 3.42 ERA) opposes right-hander Trevor Williams (1-2, 4.26) on Wednesday.
Weathers, who was recalled las
