WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Luis García Jr. delivered a two-run single to cap a six-run seventh inning that propelled the Washington Nationals to a 9-4 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday evening at Nationals Park.

The Nationals sent 10 men to the plate in the decisive frame, scoring six runs on just two hits that stayed in the infield. The rally began with a single by CJ Abrams, followed by a fielder’s choice from José Tena and a walk to Jorbit Vivas that loaded the bases. Dylan Crews was hit by a pitch to force in the first run, trimming San Diego’s lead to 4-2. Drew Millas then reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Tena, with an error on Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts allowing the inning to continue. Curtis Mead walked to force in the tying run, and after a strikeout, García lined a two-run single to center field that put Washington ahead 6-4. Daylen Lile grounded into a force out that scored Mead, making it 7-4. The outburst came against Padres reliever Wandy Peralta, who had entered in the seventh.

The inning also featured the first ejection of Padres rookie manager Craig Stammen, who argued a force play call at second base that was upheld after a challenge.

Washington added two more runs in the eighth on a two-run double by Curtis Mead, who finished with three RBIs on a pinch-hit appearance and a later at-bat. Mead’s double scored Crews and Millas, extending the lead to 9-4.

San Diego had built a 4-1 lead through five innings, powered by solo home runs from Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts and Manny Machado. Tatis connected in the fifth for his first homer of the season, a shot to left field. Bogaerts homered in the second. Machado went deep in the fourth. The Padres scored single runs in the second, fourth, fifth and eighth innings, but managed only six hits overall. Machado went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. Tatis was 2 for 5 with a home run and an RBI. Bogaerts was 1 for 3 with a homer and an RBI.

Washington starter Foster Griffin worked five innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out five. He left with a no-decision. Brad Lord earned the win, pitching two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no hits allowed. Lord improved to 3-0 on the season. Clayton Beeter notched his third save with 1⅓ perfect innings, striking out one. Michael King took the loss for San Diego, falling to 4-4. King allowed four earned runs on five hits over six innings with two strikeouts.

Millas homered in the third for Washington, his second of the season. He finished 1 for 4 with two RBIs. García went 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Mead drove in three runs on his double and a walk. The Nationals collected eight hits overall.

The game was played in front of 30,765 fans and lasted 2 hours, 44 minutes.

The victory evened the three-game series at one game apiece after San Diego won 7-5 on Friday. Washington improved to 30-29 on the season. San Diego fell to 32-25.

The pivotal seventh inning began with the Nationals trailing 4-1. After King retired the first two batters in the bottom of the sixth, he allowed a single to Nasim Nuñez and a single to García, but Lile flied out to end the threat. King was replaced by Peralta to start the seventh. Peralta allowed a leadoff single to Abrams, then Tena reached on a fielder’s choice that put runners on first and second. Vivas walked to load the bases. Crews was hit by a pitch to force in Abrams, making it 4-2. Millas hit a slow roller that second baseman Tatis fielded, but his throw to second base was not in time to force Tena, who scored on the play. Bogaerts then missed a catch on a relay, allowing Crews to reach second and Vivas to move to third. Mead walked to force in Vivas and tie the game 4-4. After James Wood struck out, García lined a 1-0 pitch to center field, scoring Crews and Millas for a 6-4 lead. Lile then grounded into a force out that brought home Mead, making it 7-4. Abrams struck out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals added insurance against Padres reliever Yuki Matsui. Jacob Young drew a walk and advanced to second on a single by Vivas. Crews grounded into a force out, putting runners on the corners. Millas hit a fielder’s choice that cut down Young at the plate. Mead then doubled to left field, scoring Crews and Millas for a 9-4 advantage.

San Diego had taken an early lead in the top of the second when Bogaerts led off with a home run to center field. The Padres added a run in the fourth on Machado’s solo homer to left, and another in the fifth on Tatis’ solo shot to left. The Padres’ final run came in the eighth when Machado doubled to left field, scoring Miguel Andujar.

Washington’s only run before the seventh came in the third when Millas homered to right field.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Washington 6, San Diego 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave San Diego a 58.1 percent probability to win. The Padres were installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 13 went under the over-under line of 8.