Padres On Deck vs. Nationals, Game 2 of 3

Washington (22-31) at San Diego (20-33), 7:05 pm, 4SD/1090/105.7

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - Adrian Gonzalez seems to have a knack for hitting the big home run. The slugger will hope continue that trend Wednesday as the San Diego Padres go for their third straight victory when they face the Washington Nationals.

For the second consecutive game, Gonzalez homered as the Padres posted a 4-2 victory in the series opener Tuesday. Gonzalez snapped a 2-2 tie by crushing a solo homer into the left-center field stands in the seventh inning. The 26-year-old Gonzalez, who delivered a three-run walk-off blast in the 18th frame of Sunday's 12-9 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, is batting .283 with a club-high 15 blasts and 44 RBI this season.

Washington will turn to lefthander Odalis Perez (1-4, 4.13 ERA) to contain Gonzalez and the rest of the San Diego offense. He allowed one run and five hits over five innings during Friday's 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Padres will counter with lefthander Shawn Estes (1-0, 2.33), who gave up two runs and three hits with four walks and five strikeouts in six frames in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Reds.