Richard, Venable Lead Padres to 4-1 Win Over Nats

Richard (4-1) got two outs in the seventh before Josh Bard homered to left field to cut the Padres' lead to 2-1. Richard was replaced by Adam Russell, who retired pinch-hitter Willie Harris on a line drive.

San Diego beat the Nationals for the 30th time in 39 games and has won 14 of 18 times at Petco Park against them, dating to 2004 when they were the Montreal expos.

Richard, one of four pitchers along with Russell acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for ace Jake Peavy on July 31, allowed one run on four hits in 6 2-3 innings. The lefty struck out six and walked two.

Heath Bell pitched the ninth inning for his 33rd save in 36 chances to complete the four-hitter.

The Padres have won six of eight and handed Washington its fifth straight loss and its 12 in 15 games.

Venable made an outstanding defensive play for the third straight game, robbing Ryan Zimmerman of an extra-base hit with a diving catch in right-center field with a runner on first base.

In Monday night's game against Washington, he threw out Wil Nieves when he tried to stretch a single into a double. And Venable made a diving catch on a drive by Hanley Ramirez that saved two runs from scoring in Sunday's game at Florida.

Tony Gwynn also robbed Zimmerman, making a sliding catch in center on a sinking liner in the eighth to save a run and end the inning.

San Diego's Oscar Salazar hit a pinch-hit homer leading off the seventh to increase the lead to 3-1 and knock out rookie J.D. Martin (3-4). Pinch hitter Drew Macias added an RBI single in the eighth.

Salazar left Monday night's game after he bruised his left knee when he slammed into the pitcher's scoreboard in left field while making a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch.

Venable had an RBI single in the second that scored Kevin Kouzmanoff, who led off with a double. Kouzmanoff added a sacrifice fly in the fifth that scored rookie Everth Cabrera, who reached after Martin failed to field his leadoff bunt for an error.

Martin gave up three runs -- two earned -- on five hits in six innings. The right-hander walked five and struck out three.

NOTES: Nationals SS Cristian Guzman missed his second straight start with bunions on his foot. Guzman, scheduled to also sit out Wednesday's finale of the three-game series, grounded out as a pinch hitter. ... Padres rookie RHP Mat Latos will likely make his final start of the season on Saturday at the Los Angeles Dodgers since he has already more than doubled the number of innings he's thrown in either of his first two minor league seasons. ... The Park View Little League team from Chula Vista, who won the Little League World Series on Sunday, will be honored by the Padres before their game on Sept. 12 against Colorado. Chula Vista is located 10 miles south of San Diego.