Wire Taps: Washington Nationals stop 4-game slide; Trea Turner homers in return + more Nats links...

What was Davey Martinez’s reaction to Trea Turner’s one-out home run in the first, on which he jumped on a first-pitch fastball from Padres’ starter Joe Musgrove and hit it out to left for an early lead in what ended up a 7-5 win?

“It was awesome,” Martinez said, after Turner returned from four games off waiting for some inflammation in a jammed finger to go down.

“We talked to him before the game, we watched him swing, he said he felt pretty good, and he came through for us tonight. Not only the home run, but he got another hit, a big hit for us as well.”

How did Turner’s finger feel after he went 2 for 4 with a walk and the home run last night?

“Pretty good. Still a little sore here and there, but overall feel confident in being able to play and right now it feels pretty good, so hopefully tomorrow bounce back and don’t hit any bumps and then we’ll keep going.”

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Win over Padres:

Jon Lester has rough start but Nationals hang on to beat Padres - (WaPost)
"By exiting in the fourth inning, the veteran left-hander drops another heavy workload on the Washington bullpen."

Nationals snap skid with win over Padres in opener - (MLB.com)
"After Turner watched leadoff hitter Alcides Escobar battle through a nine-pitch at-bat to open the game, he believed he would get a good pitch to hit."

Surging Bell powers Nats to late-night win in San Diego - (MASN)
"Let’s not forget, though, just how big a hole Bell dug for himself six weeks in."

Other Nats Stories:

Stephen Strasburg, Daniel Hudson take steps toward recovery for Nationals - (WaPost)
"Washington traveled with Kyle Schwarber, Stephen Strasburg, Daniel Hudson and several other players working toward a return to the field."

Was Dodgers series a blip or a sign of worse things to come? - (MASN)
"After completing Saturday night’s rain-delayed loss at 12:22 a.m. Sunday, they were back on the field Monday at 11:05 a.m. for the series finale."

Turner and Gomes return to lineup, Tuesday's starter is TBA - (MASN)
"A Nationals club desperate for more healthy bodies is getting two of them back for tonight’s series opener in San Diego, with more potentially coming in the next few days."

Former Nationals bench coach Chip Hale hired to coach alma mater Arizona - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Veteran coach and 2019 World Series champion Chip Hale has agreed to be the next manager at his alma mater Arizona, the university announced Monday."

All-Stars:

Max Scherzer's All-Star Game snub surprises teammates - (Washington Times)
"Trea Turner was confused. When the shortstop discovered that he, Juan Soto and Kyle Schwarber had been named Sunday to their first MLB All-Star roster, Turner’s excitement soon morphed into wonderment that another Nationals player wasn’t on that list."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

MLB power rankings: Handing out first-half grades for all 30 teams - (Sports Illustrated)
"Washington’s steady climb back into the thick of the NL East race makes it all but certain that Max Scherzer—who is on pace for his best season ever, by the way—will remain atop the rotation in D.C. through the fall."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Mets GM Zack Scott preparing for Trade Deadline - (MLB.com)
"Just because the Mets are focused on pitching does not necessarily mean they will land Kyle Gibson, Germán Márquez or any of the other top starters who reportedly will be available at the Deadline."

Phillies will have two All-Stars in Zack Wheeler and J.T. Realmuto - (The Morning Call)
Zack Wheeler was named to the National League team Sunday evening, as expected, after pitching as well as anyone this side of New York Mets ace/wizard Jacob deGrom.

Sixto Sánchez to have season-ending shoulder surgery - (MLB.com)
"Marlins top prospect Sixto Sánchez will undergo season-ending arthroscopic surgery after an MRI revealed a small tear in the posterior capsule of his right shoulder, the club announced Monday."

Braves plan to see more of Orlando Arcia in left field - (AJC.com)
"Braves manager Brian Snitker hopes newcomer Orlando Arcia can provide a spark."