Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ offensive explosion results in 15-5 win over San Diego Padres + Juan Soto enters HR Derby...

Three straight 10:10 starts have us completely exhausted, and we don’t even have to play the games. We’re sure the Nationals are fine, but a laugher last night probably helped the club relax a little bit.

“Hey, for my peace of mind, it was pretty good,” Davey Martinez said of the 15-5 win over the Padres. “Hey, they swung the bats well today, [Patrick] Corbin gave us the innings we needed, and [Kyle] McGowin threw the ball well and Jefry [Rodríguez] got in there and finished the game. So, it was an all-around good game. Our bats really came alive tonight, we hit the ball well all night long, so that was great.”

It was great. But seriously, we’re exhausted, go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Nats' bats stay hot during blowout win in San Diego - (MASN)
"With a 15-5 thumping of the Padres, the Nats ensured at least a four-game series split against one of the tougher opponents they’ll face this season."

Alcides Escobar sparks Nationals in leadoff spot - (MLB.com)
"By the end of the Nationals’ 15-5 win over the Padres on Wednesday night at Petco Park, Escobar was 8-for-21 in five games since the trade."

The Nationals’ marginal investment in Alcides Escobar continues to pay off in rout of Padres - (WaPost)
"The Nationals are receiving a solid return on their investment in infielder Alcides Escobar, who helped spark the Nationals to a 15-5 rout of the Padres."

Hudson activated, bringing bullpen closer to full strength - (MASN)
"On Tuesday night, it was Erick Fedde and Kyle Finnegan coming off the injured list and pitching against the Padres. Tonight, it’s Daniel Hudson activated off the 10-day IL, seemingly ahead of schedule."

Soto In Derby:

With Juan Soto in the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby, how have past Nationals fared? - (NBC Sports Washington)
"Juan Soto announced Wednesday that he will participate in Major League Baseball’s 2021 Home Run Derby. On Monday, the league's best power hitters will converge at Coors Field in Denver to see who can hit the most dingers."

Juan Soto will join a cast of bashers for the Home Run Derby in the thin air of Coors Field - (WaPost)
"Juan Soto, the Nationals' 22-year-old phenom fresh off a batting title last season, joins a cast of bashers poised to send balls flying in the thin air at Denver's Coors Field."

Juan Soto 2021 Home Run Derby - (MLB.com)
"Nationals phenom Juan Soto will compete in the 2021 Home Run Derby, he announced on Instagram on Wednesday."

Soto will participate in Monday night's Home Run Derby - (MASN)
"Maybe the cure for Juan Soto’s struggles to elevate the ball is to hit a bunch of balls at high elevation in the Home Run Derby."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Nationals Sign Nick Goody To Minors Contract - (MLB Trade Rumors)
"The Nationals signed right-hander Nick Goody to a minor league contract. Goody was released from another minors deal with the Yankees earlier this week..."

Offseason deals paying off in 2021 - (MLB.com)
"After starting slowly -- mirroring the Nats team as a whole -- Schwarber got historically hot in June."

NL EAST UPDATES:

2021 MLB All-Star Game: It 'sucks' not playing in ASG, but Bryce Harper would have skipped it this year anyway - (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
"'Of course, you always want to be an All-Star and when you’re not there, it sucks,' he said after Tuesday night’s game. But even if Harper was selected, he would have declined the invite to this year's game in Denver."

Unexpected tribute to Mets' Jacob deGrom's greatness - (NY Post)
"It was a quiet borne of disbelief. It is a sound familiar to anyone who was ever in Yankee Stadium when Mariano Rivera failed. The template of overwhelming success was so strong that the opposite brought shock, perhaps a bit of awe, certainly bewilderment."

Marlins walk it off for the second straight game - (MLB.com)
"Jesús Aguilar knocked a walk-off, three-run homer in Wednesday night's 9-6 win over the Dodgers at loanDepot park. Aguilar’s previous 13 taters on the season came on the road."

Is Zach Thompson the Marlins’ Latest Pitching Success? - (FanGraphs)
"In late June and in just his fourth major league start, Marlins right-hander Zach Thompson accomplished something that has only been done nine times in the last decade."

5 takeaways as Braves salvage series finale in Pittsburgh - (AJC.com)
"On a rainy Wednesday in Pittsburgh, the Braves created their own thunder. They thumped the Pirates 14-3 to avoid a three-game sweep."