No matter how the Washington Nationals are getting it done, they continue to surge.
Following a comeback victory to take their fifth straight series, the Nationals open a four-game road set with the San Diego Padres on Thursday night.
Replacing Bryce Harper following the star's ejection, reserve outfielder Michael Taylor hit his first grand slam in the top of the ninth inning to give Washington (19-16) a 9-6 victory at Arizona on Wednesday.
"I always like our chances," outfielder Jayson Werth said. "I don't feel like we're ever out of it."
The win was the 12th in the last 15 games for the Nationals, who have averaged 6.5 runs during a stretch that began by overcoming an early 9-1 deficit at Atlanta on April 28 and included back-to-back 1-0 victories against the New York Mets.
Harper, 14 for 26 with seven homers, 11 runs and 16 RBIs in the last seven games, was tossed along with manager Matt Williams for arguing a checked-swing call in the seventh. Taylor, who was 2 for 11 in his previous seven games, came through to help Washington overcome deficits of 5-3 and 6-5.
"Let's give that team credit. They battled," Arizona manager Chip Hale said of the Nationals. "A guy off the bench comes up with a big home run. That's pretty impressive."
Washington hopes Doug Fister (2-1, 2.87 ERA) can record another strong road outing Thursday. The right-hander has not allowed a run in two of his three road starts while going 1-1 with a 1.96 ERA.
His last outing came at home Saturday, when he gave up three runs in 6 2-3 innings while not factoring in the decision of an 8-6 victory over the Braves.
In his only appearance versus San Diego in 2011, Fister threw a six-hitter and struck out seven in a 1-0 defeat with Seattle.
After concluding a 4-5 trip with a 4-2 victory over the Mariners on Wednesday, the Padres (18-17) try for a fourth consecutive victory at Petco Park.
"Where we are now, one game over .500 and we haven't hit our stride, that's something we can look forward to," San Diego manager Bud Black said.
However, it's expected that center fielder Wil Myers won't be available after he missed both games at Seattle with a wrist injury. Myers is hitting .291 with five homers, 19 RBIs and leads the club with 39 hits and 28 runs.
"I'm hoping for only a few days," Black told MLB's official website. "I want to be encouraged, I really do."
Though San Diego's Tyson Ross (1-3, 3.98) is 0-3 in his last five starts, he has allowed two runs in each of the last two. He lasted six innings during a 6-4, 12-inning victory at Arizona on Saturday.
In his only start against the Nationals, Ross gave up six runs in 5 1-3 innings of a 6-0 home loss June 6.
Harper is 2 for 2 with a home run against the right-hander.
Teammate Denard Span went 6 for 12 at Arizona, and is 3 for 9 with a double versus Ross.
After going hitless in 20 at-bats over his previous 11 games, San Diego's Will Middlebrooks went 2 for 7 with a homer at Seattle. He's 2 for 5 during the regular season versus Fister.
