Ryan Zimmerman led off the bottom of the ninth inning with his second home run of the game, leading the Washington Nationals to a 6-5 walk-off victory Tuesday over the San Diego Padres.

San Diego rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to knot the contest at 5-5, but it went for naught as Zimmerman launched a 0-1 offering from Luke Gregerson (2-4) over the center-field wall for his 16th blast of the season.

It was the fourth two-homer performance of the year for Zimmerman, who also hit a solo shot in the fourth inning.

The blast made a winner of Matt Capps (3-3), who allowed two hits in the top of the ninth but was aided by his defense.

San Diego’s Scott Hairston doubled off Capps with a runner on first and two outs. Shortstop Ian Desmond received left fielder Josh Willingham's throw and relayed it to catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who applied the tag on Jerry Hairston Jr. to end the inning and keep the game even.

The Padres tied the contest in the eighth on an RBI single by Yorvit Torrealba, Aaron Cunningham's sacrifice fly and a throwing error by Desmond.

Desmond belted a solo homer and Mike Morse had three hits - including a two-run single - for the Nationals, who won for just the fifth time in their last 11 home games. Rodriguez also plated a run with a base hit.

Adrian Gonzalez delivered an RBI single and Scott Hairston lifted a sacrifice fly for San Diego, which saw its three-game winning streak snapped. Hairston Jr. collected three hits and Padres starter Clayton Richard added a pair and scored a run.