Blackmon powers Rockies to 11th-inning win over Nationals
WASHINGTON -- Charlie Blackmon had three hits, including two home runs, and three RBIs as the Colorado Rockies beat the first-place Washington Nationals 9-4 on Saturday to snap a four-game losing streak.
Blackmon hit a two-run homer off Yusmeiro Petit (3-4) in the top of the 11th inning to give the Rockies a 6-4 lead. It was the fifth time this year Blackmon, with 23 homers, had at least two homers in a game.
Carlos Gonzalez, who also had three RBIs, added a two-run homer off Petit later in the 11th -- the 200th of his career -- to give the Rockies an 8-4 lead. It was the 24th homer of the season for Gonzalez and just the second extra-inning win for Colorado this year. Nick Hundley had an RBI single to make it 9-4 in the five-run 11th.
The winning pitcher was Jake McGee (1-3), who pitched a scoreless 10th inning. Bryce Harper of Washington was ejected to lead off the 10th when he was called out on strikes by home plate umpire and crew chief Mike Winters.
Washington's Jayson Werth had a two-out RBI single in the ninth to tie the game at 4 for the first earned run allowed this year by Adam Ottavino of the Rockies. But Ottavino got hot-hitting Daniel Murphy to groundout to end the ninth with Werth on third.
Colorado (61-68) scored an unearned run in the seventh to take a 4-3 lead. Blackmon led off with a single and advanced to second on a bunt single by DJ LeMahieu (three hits) and went to third on a throwing error by Washington pitcher Marc Rzepczynski. Gonzalez had a groundout to drive in Blackmon.
The Nationals scored three runs in the fourth to the game at 3. Harper had an RBI double, Wilson Ramos drove in a run with a single and Danny Espinosa plated a run with a groundout.
Blackmon hit a solo homer in the third to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead in the third. Nolan Arenado led off the fourth with a double and later scored on a wild pitch, and starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa had an RBI single to give the Rockies a 3-0 lead.
De La Rosa gave up three runs and eight hits with eight strikeouts in five innings as he threw a whopping 112 pitches. De La Rosa was coming off a start Aug. 21 in which he pitched eight innings against the Chicago Cubs to tie a personal best in his career.
Washington starter A.J. Cole, in his second start of the season, gave up four hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings. He also struggled with command, throwing 112 pitches while hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch.
LeMahieu started at second base for the Rockies after he missed the past three games with inflammation in his left wrist. He entered the game hitting .344, second in the league to Murphy's .346.
Trea Turner, Anthony Rendon, Espinosa and Murphy had two hits for the Nationals (75-54), who began the day eight games ahead of the Miami Marlins in the National League East. David Dahl had three hits and Cristhian Adames and Arenado had two for the Rockies.
NOTES: Washington RHP and closer Mark Melancon, acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in a trade July 31, was born in Arvada, Colo., about 10 miles from Coors Field. He got the last out Friday in a non-save situation in an 8-5 win over the Rockies. ... It was a long journey to the majors for Colorado INF-OF Stephen Cardullo, who went 0-for-3 with a walk in his first big-league game Friday as he started at first base. Cardullo was drafted in the 24th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks out of Florida State in 2010 and played in the Canadian-American Association from 2013-15 and for the London Road Warriors and Florence Freedom of the independent Frontier League in 2012. ... Rockies RHP Chad Bettis (10-7, 5.29 ERA) will start on Sunday in Washington. The Nationals did not name a starter before Saturday's game but it appears it will be RHP Lucas Giolito (0-0, 4.91 ERA), who made three earlier starts. RHP Joe Ross (7-4, 3.49 ERA) will make a minor league rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Syracuse in a spot that had been occupied by Giolito in the Chiefs' rotation. Ross went on the disabled list July 3 with right shoulder inflammation.