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Nats beat Rockies; Nicasio leaves on stretcher

Aug 6, 2011 - 6:22 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Michael Morse went 3-for-5 with a homer and two RBI, as Washington held off Colorado, 5-3, in a game marred by a scary injury to Rockies pitcher Juan Nicasio.

Ian Desmond, who had four hits, lined a ball off the Colorado starter's face in the second inning. Nicasio was taken off the field on a stretcher and went to a local hospital.

Ryan Zimmerman had a two-run triple in the first inning for the Nationals, who snapped a two-game skid, but won for the fifth time in seven tries.

Jordan Zimmermann (7-9) had eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings, and Drew Storen notched his 28th save of the year.

Nicasio (4-4) was replaced by Edgmer Escalona, who lasted 4 1/3 innings.

Chris Iannetta had three hits and an RBI for Colorado, which lost for the fifth time in six games.

Nicasio was pegged on the right side of his face on the second pitch of the second inning. Nicasio tumbled to the mound head-first and remained on his back. He was tended to by paramedics before being fitted with a neck brace. Nicasio was lifted onto a stretcher and carted off the field before heading to a local hospital.

Nicasio was seen talking throughout the process, as Rockies manager Jim Tracy, first baseman Todd Helton and Iannetta were nearby.

"We're obviously very worried," Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said. "Our thoughts, our prayers are with him. It's scary. We come out here and play baseball every single day. Sometimes some crazy things can happen. It puts it in perspective."

Tracy seemed just as worried about the 24-year-old rookie right-hander.

"It was pretty bad, I've experienced it before which is why I don't want to talk about it too much," Tracy said. "I've had that incident happen once before in another place. It's no fun."

Almost a month ago, Washington's John Lannan was hit in the nose by a line drive off the bat of Colorado's Ty Wigginton.

"It's hard to see another ball player get hurt," Desmond said. "It was just unfortunate. I said my prayer for him as soon as it happened."

Zimmermann doubled and scored on a Rick Ankiel single in the fourth inning, and it became 4-0 in the fifth on Morse's homer to center.

Colorado put together three straight RBI singles in the sixth from Chris Nelson, Ian Stewart and Iannetta. Stewart went to third on an error from Ankiel. Wigginton walked in a pinch-hitting role and Tyler Clippard then threw three straight balls to open Eric Young Jr.'s at-bat. Young, though, looked at the next three pitches for strikes to leave the bases full.

Nelson was picked off at first base in the eighth and Morse added an insurance RBI single in the ninth off Huston Street.

Dexter Fowler doubled with one out in the bottom half, but Storen retired the next two batters.

Game Notes

Zimmerman has hit safely in 14 straight games...Washington is 13-13 against the NL West. With 10 games remaining against the division, the Nats have a chance to post a winning record against the division for the first time since going 16-14 in 2005...Colorado left 10 men on base.