Rockies rock Strasburg, beat Nationals
DENVER -- The Colorado Rockies pounced on Washington starter Stephen Strasburg for seven runs in the first inning Wednesday, an uprising that included six hits, four of them doubles.
That emphatic early rally paved the way to a 12-10 win over the Nationals in the rubber game of the series.
However, it couldn't guarantee victory for Rockies starter Jon Gray. He labored through four innings, one short of the five innings needed by a starter to qualify for a win.
Tony Wolters went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and finished a triple shy of the cycle, and Gerardo Parra drove in four runs, three with a first-inning double, for Colorado.
Bryce Harper hit his 21st homer, a two-run shot to right-center in the fifth off Christian Bergman, who relieved Gray, that cut the Rockies' lead to 9-6.
The Rockies answered with three runs in their half of the fifth. Wolters hit his third homer, DJ LeMahieu, who went 2-for-5 and raised his average to .343, singled in a run and Nolan Arenado hit a sacrifice fly.
The Nationals scored on a wild pitch in the seventh, and pinch-hitter Pedro Severino hit his first major-league homer in the eighth to make it 12-8.
Strasburg (15-4) needed 42 pitches to get through the first, when the first six Rockies batters reached base. Arenado singled home a run. Parra cleared the bases with a three-run double. Wolters doubled home a run, and Gray doubled home two more.
Gray had one RBI and no extra-base hits in his previous 43 career at-bats.
During the rally, LeMahieu singled, giving him eight straight hits, one short of the Rockies record set by Andres Galarraga in 1993. LeMahieu ended the inning by taking a called third strike, ending his streak of reaching base in 10 consecutive plate appearances, which is tied for fourth all-time in Rockies history.
The seven runs in the bottom of the first are the most the Rockies have scored since they erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the first on Sept. 17, 2014, against the Dodgers.
Each team scored twice in the second. Anthony Rendon doubled home Washington's first run and scored on Danny Espinosa's single. For the Rockies, Parra tripled after a walk to Arenado and scored on Ben Paulsen's single.
Strasburg allowed nine hits and nine runs, both season-high totals, in 1 2/3 innings. In his past three starts, Strasburg has a 14.66 ERA (11 2/3 innings, 19 earned runs) with 24 hits allowed in that span.
Pinch-hitter Wilmer Difo singled home a run in the fourth, and Trea Tuner followed with a sacrifice fly made possible by left fielder David Dahl's ill-advised throw home on Difo's hit, which allowed two runners to move up. That was the final inning for Gray, who threw 96 pitches in four innings and is 0-2 with a 14.73 ERA (11 innings, 18 earned runs) in his past three starts with 22 hits allowed in those games.
Boone Logan (2-2) struck out Murphy and Harper, the two batters he faced in the eighth, and was awarded the win by the official scorer. All four relievers who pitched before Logan were scored upon. Scott Oberg gave up a two-out homer in the ninth to Chris Heisey but earned his first save.
NOTES: Rockies CF Charlie Blackmon extended his hitting streak to 12 games...Nationals LF Jayson Werth extended his Nationals-record on-base streak to 45 games, one short of the Nationals/Expos franchise record set by Rusty Staub in 1969-1970. ...Rockies RHP Christian Bergman or RHP prospect Jeff Hoffman are the candidates to start Saturday, taking the turn of RHP Tyler Chatwood (mid-back strain), who is on the disabled list. Hoffman would be making his major league debut. ... Colorado RF Carlos Gonzalez, who is recovering from a sprained left ankle, was not in the lineup for a day game after a night game and will get additional rest since the Rockies don't play Thursday. ... Nationals LHP Sammy Solis (left shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Tuesday and has been sent back to Washington to undergo an MRI. ... Nationals RHP Koda Glover was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to begin his second major league stint. He pitched in two games and threw two scoreless innings for Washington last month and is a combined 3-0 with eight saves and a 2.25 ERA in 40 games at three levels of the minors this season.