WASHINGTON -- By the time the 12th inning rolled around, the San Diego Padres were without third baseman Chase Headley -- his strained calf could send him to the disabled list -- and left fielder Seth Smith, who hurt a groin muscle. Evan Rodrigues Sabres Jersey . The Padres were on their way to using a total of 20 players, including seven pitchers. Well, seven on the mound, and one in left field. Andrew Cashner briefly filled in for Smith before manager Bud Black made a double-switch. So it was quite a relief when Xavier Nady delivered a tiebreaking RBI single off Craig Stammen in the top of the 12th to give San Diego a 4-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night. "This was an interesting one, for sure," Black said. "This was one where you really had to be creative as it went along." Nady, who entered the game in right field in the ninth, bounced a 2-0 fastball up the middle off Stammen (0-1), who was working his third inning. "Im the last man standing. Whatever happens, happens. Ive got to live with it," Stammen said. "I left it up a little bit, but he put it in a good spot." Jedd Gyorko singled, stole second and got to third when catcher Jose Lobatons throw sailed into the outfield for an error, then scored on Nadys hit. "As soon as I threw the ball," Lobaton said, gritting his teeth, "I was like, Ah, that was a bad throw." Alex Torres (1-0) got two outs in the 11th for the win, and Houston Street worked around Bryce Harpers leadoff double in the 12th for his eighth save. The game ended when Lobaton lined out to shortstop Everth Cabrera, who flipped the ball to second base to double off Harper. "It was sort of ironic that we were sort of worried about Harper stealing third," Black explained, "and so we tried to keep Cabby a little bit tighter to Harper, and sure enough the ball was hit in the hole." The Nationals went 0 for 16 with runners in scoring position and left 14 men on base. The only 1-2-3 innings for Padres pitching were the second and 11th. "Theres just something in you, when your backs against the wall a little bit, youve got to reach back and really give your best shot and throw your best pitches," said Tim Stauffer, who threw 2 1-3 scoreless innings in relief of Eric Stults. "I think as a whole we were able to do that today." Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa said: "Its easy to press. You want to come through for your team." He hit a solo homer in the sixth, and Adam LaRoche added one in the seventh to help Washington pull even after trailing 3-1. But the Padres never did let the Nationals go ahead from there. Headley left in the middle of the second inning, and Black said: "That looks as though thats probably going to be a DL." Smith departed in the 11th but the manager didnt think his problem will send him to the disabled list. In the top of the ninth, San Diegos Yonder Alonso walked, then tried to steal second and initially was ruled safe. But Nationals manager Matt Williams challenged the call, which was overruled on review; replays showed that Alonsos front leg was in the air as he slid and his foot didnt touch the bag before he was tagged. Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. Stults gave up 10 hits but only two runs in his 5 1-3 innings. "When I was done," Stults said, "it seemed like I kind of pitched yesterday." NOTES: Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez felt "normal, after-a-start soreness" Thursday and would get plenty of treatment, Williams said. Gonzalez was pulled in the sixth inning after only 83 pitches Wednesday because his left shoulder felt tight. "Im not concerned about it. I dont think he is, either, really," Williams said. "We want to be careful, but we dont think theres any major concern there." ... Washington RHP Doug Fister, on the 15-day DL with a back muscle problem, threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session Thursday and is scheduled to make his first minor league rehab start Sunday, probably at Class-A Potomac. ... Padres LF Carlos Quentin, on the 15-day DL with a bone bruise in his left knee, is expected to report to extended spring training in Arizona this weekend. ... On Friday, Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (1-2, 5.33) will face Padres LHP Robbie Erlin (1-2, 4.15). Sam Reinhart Sabres Jersey . Lupul injured the hand in a fall at practice on Thursday. He will wear a cast for a minimum of 10 days before he can put a glove back on it and get some mobility back, said Carlyle, who added the winger wont go on the teams upcoming road trip. Danny Gare Jersey . THE MICHAEL JORDAN FLU GAME First this famous basketball moment. The story goes like this. “Game 5, known as "The Flu Game", was one of Michael Jordans most memorable. http://www.officialsabresfanstore.com/authentic-jake-mccabe-sabres-jersey/ .com) - The Vancouver Canucks recovered from a fluke goal early last time out to knock off one of the top teams in the league.Having already locked up their fifth consecutive series victory, the Toronto Blue Jays will try to sweep the Tampa Bay Rays for the first time since 2010 as the clubs conclude a three-game set tonight. The Blue Jays have slugged their way to a pair of victories to open this set, pushing their winning streak to an impressive eight straight games. Tuesdays 9-6 win gave Toronto a fifth straight series victory for the first time since Sept. 17-Oct. 3, 2010 and put the club in position to sweep Tampa Bay in a three-game set for the first time since Aug. 6-8, 2010 in Toronto. Toronto has homered in 10 straight games, with Edwin Encarnacion a big part of that surge. He went deep in last nights win to match a club record for the most homers in a month with 14. That equaled Jose Bautistas mark set in June of 2012. Juan Francisco and Adam Lind also homered, while Bautista went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Torontos 13th win in 15 games. "Everybodys having fun," Encarnacion said. "You can see it on their faces. Were playing great baseball." That also holds true for starter Mark Buehrle, who picked up his Major League- leading ninth win of the season last night. He gave up four runs -- three earned -- over 6 2/3 innings. Sean Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with three RBI and Wil Myers knocked in two runs for the Rays, who had won four in a row prior to this series. Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb came into Tuesdays start with a 21 2/2 scoreless- innings streak. He stretched that to a club-record 24 2/3 straight frames before the Blue Jays finally got to him for a total of six runs over his five- inning outing. "He was really good, moving along really nicely and all of a suddeen they struck," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Cobb. Vladimir Sobotka Jersey. Now it will be Chris Archers turn to try and tame the Blue Jays offense and he comes in having not allowed a run in his past two outings. Archer hurled 5 2/3 frames of two-hit ball in a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels on May 16, then did not factor into Fridays decision versus Boston despite six scoreless innings. Archer scattered four hits and five walks while matching a career high with 11 strikeouts and throwing a personal high 119 pitches. Walks have been a concern for the right-hander as he has issued 19 free passes over his last five outings, but still comes in 3-2 on the year with a 4.11 earned run average. Archer, 25, is 2-0 with a 2.01 ERA in four previous meetings with the Blue Jays, beating them on April 3 after giving up two runs over six frames with seven strikeouts. The Blue Jays counter with Liam Hendriks, who made his Toronto and season debut with a 3-2 win over Oakland on Friday. The righty yielded one run on three hits and three walks, also fanning three in 5 2/3 frames. "I was given opportunities in Minnesota and I didnt capitalize on them," said the 25-year-old Hendriks, who played for the Twins from 2011-2013. "Now Ive got a different mindset coming into the season of just getting ready, getting aggressive and getting after guys early. "I think its paid dividends so far and hopefully I can continue this trend and stay up here all year." Hendriks, who was 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA in nine games this year with Triple-A Buffalo before getting recalled, faced the Rays once before while with the Twins and did not get a decision, allowing four runs over 5 2/3 frames in the start. ' ' '