Padres left-hander Christian Fredrich and Nationals right-hander Lucas Giolito, the top prospect in baseball, started the game and neither was able to get past the fourth.
Washington got off to a good start in the first. After he led off with a triple, Trea Turner scored the first run on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Murphy.
Giolito was able to retire the first six hitters he faced, but the Padres took a 3-1 lead by the third. Wil Myers highlighted the scoring with a two-run single.
But the Nationals took care Fredrich in the bottom of the inning by scoring four runs and took a 5-3 lead.