Center Field Gate

Adam Dunn’s grand slam home run in the bottom of the second inning — and Tyler Clippard’s dominant four innings of relief work — powered the Washington Nationals to a 13-1 victory over the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park on a wet Saturday night. The game was suspended for more than three hours due to rain, resuming at just after 11 p.m.  and finishing just over two hours later. Dunn’s slam came after Ryan Zimmerman had homered in the first against Padres’ starter Tim Stauffer. San Diego pitching provided a Nats’ smorgasbord: Nyjer Morgan was 4 for five, Cristian Guzman was 3 for 5, Ryan Zimmerman was 3 for 5 and Josh Willingham was 2 for four. Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman accounted for eight of the Nationals’ thirteen runs.

Nats’ reliever Tyler Clippard was impressive in four innings of work, striking out seven Friars — a Nats record for a reliever. Clippard’s outing lowered his ERA to 1.93. Clippard, who has spent his career up to this year as a starter, has thrived as a reliever since being recalled from triple-A Syracuse. “I’m a guy that needs to beat you with all of my pitches,” Clippard acknowledged recently. “Coming out of the bullpen with four pitches, I feel hitters don’t see that a lot. I went on the mound knowing that, and I had a lot of confidence.” Clippard used all of his pitches against the Padres on Saturday night: he threw 56 pitches (37 for strikes), while giving up only one hit and walking one. Clippard has gained confidence in his fastball, throwing it on pitchers’ counts. Padres’ batters couldn’t catch up to his 96 mph heater; the former Yankee prospect registered five flyballs or pop-ups in addition to the seven strikeouts.