Former Nationals Players Return to Nationals Park in Padres' Victory Washington -- Almost a decade after their initial arrival, Lucas Giolito and Craig Stammen returned to Nationals Park as members of the San Diego Padres, contributing to a 7-5 victory over their former team. Giolito, now 31, made his third start for San Diego since joining as a late free-agent signing in April, while Stammen, the Padres’ manager, spent his first seven Major League seasons with Washington. Their return marked a bittersweet reunion, as the Padres secured a win that added new memories to the storied ballpark. Giolito’s journey to Nationals Park began in 2016, when he made his big league debut at age 21. The right-hander, then regarded as baseball’s top prospect, pitched four clean innings before a rainout halted his debut. His return to the park in 2026 was marred by struggles, as he allowed four earned runs in 2 2/3 innings. His fastball velocity peaked at 91.8 mph, and nearly 65% of his pitches were offspeed, with just over half being strikes. “The stuff we’ve been trying to work on is not taking hold at game speed,” Giolito admitted, acknowledging the difficulty of translating practice to performance. The Padres’ victory was fueled by a clutch seventh-inning two-run homer from Jackson Merrill, who described the hit as “the hardest I’ve hit a ball in a long time.” Merrill’s contribution helped San Diego overcome a 5-3 deficit, securing a win that highlighted the team’s resilience. The game also featured a strong bullpen performance, with the Padres allowing just one run across 6 1/3 innings. Mason Miller closed the game with four outs for his 17th save, ensuring the Padres’ dominance in the late innings. Stammen’s return to Nationals Park carried deeper significance.#san_diego_padres #craig_stammen #jackson_merrill #lucas_giolito #nationals_park
