Bell, Turner homer in Nationals' 7-5 win against Padres

SAN DIEGO (AP) — In his first swing since being named an All-Star, Trea Turner drove a pitch from Joe Musgrove into the second deck in left field at Petco Park.

The loud homer announced Turner's return from missing four games with a jammed left middle finger and helped the Washington Nationals beat the San Diego Padres 7-5 on Monday night.

The Nationals raved about how important it is to have Turner in their lineup. He hadn't played since getting hurt on Wednesday.

“That was awesome," manager Dave Martinez said. “I mean, we talked to him before the game, we watched him swing, he said he felt pretty good so he came through for us tonight. He wants to play. He wants to be out there every day. He doesn’t ask me for days off, he goes out there and plays the game the right way. Now you can see why he’s an All-Star.”

Turner said his finger is still a little sore “but overall I feel confident."

He said he tried to rest his finger as much as possible the previous four days.

“I just felt like I was in a good spot beforehand and felt consistent, just trying to keep doing what I was doing four games ago," Turner said. “I think it's a little bit of luck, getting a good pitch to hit, but I felt good before and I was just trying to repeat that."

Josh Bell hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning. He and Alcides Escobar had three hits apiece for the Nationals, who rebounded after being swept in four games at home by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Turner hit a no-doubter into the second deck in left field on the first pitch he saw from Musgrove with one out in the first. It was the 15th for Turner, a first-time All-Star who was drafted by the Padres in the first round of the 2014 amateur draft and then included in a three-team deal that December that brought Myers to the Padres from...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Bell-Turner-homer-in-Nationals-7-5-win-against-16295033.php