Jurickson Profar came through with a two-run single with the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th inning, propelling the San Diego Padres to an exciting 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday night.
Profar’s hit landed in the gap between right and center field and bounced over the fence. He celebrated by rounding first base, heading towards his teammates for the infield celebration, and lifting his arms in triumph.
The Nationals intentionally walked Luis Arraez, who leads the majors in hits, to face Profar. Hunter Harvey then threw a pitch aimed at intimidating Profar. His game-winning hit came after rookie Jackson Merrill’s two-run single earlier in the inning.
“I felt disrespected,” Profar commented on the intentional walk. “I just focused on hitting a line drive. That was my goal. Keep it simple and bring in those two runs. I had to get it done.”
Reflecting on his emotions, Profar added, “It was a combination of the walk and then that pitch up and in, near my face. That fired me up.”
Manager Mike Shildt acknowledged the tough decision the Nationals faced: “It’s a situation where you have to choose between poison and poison, with Arraez and Profar. It’s a reasonable decision from a baseball perspective.”
Profar has been managing patellar tendinitis in his left knee for a few weeks but showed his grit with the game-winning hit.
“He’s a winner,” Shildt praised Profar. “He’s a warrior with the heart of a lion. He’s a crucial part of our team.”
The Padres had struggled to get on base since the third inning. Wandy Peralta earned the win. Washington had taken a 6-3 lead in the top of the 10th with Keibert Ruiz’s RBI double and Nick Senzel’s two-run homer to left field.
Joey Meneses contributed three hits and drove in the Nationals’ first three runs, while former Padres player C.J. Abrams had three hits and scored twice.
