SAN DIEGO — The margin for error is slim with the Nationals these days, and that frustration is bubbling to the surface.

Ty France’s checked swing resulted in ball one instead of a strikeout, which changed the complexion of the third inning. Instead of an inning-ending strikeout. France’s RBI single found the gap between Andrés Chaparro and Nasim Nuñez.

Jackson Merrill then gave the Padres the lead with his two-run triple. Jacob Young was shaken up after crashing into the wall in center field trying to make the catch. After the play, manager Blake Butera ran from the dugout and made a beeline toward first-base umpire Emile Jimenez.

Butera laid into Jimenez, seemingly irate at the check-swing call that led to the three runs that proved the difference in the Nationals’ 9-2 loss Wednesday. The team is limping to the finish line of this once surprising, enjoyable season.

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Washington finished its West Coast road trip 0-6 with three blown saves — including breaking the 121-loss White Sox’s 2024 record for blown saves in a season.

This trip highlighted how close the Nationals are and how far they have to go in their development. While their high-powered, timely offense led to a breakout first half, it has taken a step back after the trades of Curtis Mead and Luis García Jr.

There are times when the offense can still carry the team, but the unit as a whole is far less consistent without those pillars at the corners.