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Rockies dominate Nationals

Aug 7, 2011 - 5:44 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Dexter Fowler knocked in four runs and Troy Tulowitzki added three RBI in Colorado's 15-7 pounding of the Washington Nationals.

Chris Iannetta had four hits, including a homer. Ty Wigginton also went deep as part of a 19-hit attack for the Rockies, who won a night after starting pitcher Juan Nicasio was hit by a line drive in the head. He had surgery in the early morning hours to stabilize a fracture to the C-1 vertebra in his neck. Nicasio remains hospitalized.

"It's still heavy on everyone's hearts," Fowler said. "Fortunately [Nicasio's] doing better ... We were excited to come back and take our minds off it."

Carlos Gonzalez returned from the disabled list and posted two hits, and RBI and scored twice.

Jhoulys Chacin (9-8) walked five batters through five innings, but managed to get his first victory since June 15 against the Padres. Chacin was 0-4 over his previous eight starts.

Michael Morse had four hits and drove in three, but the Nationals lost for the third time in four contests. Rick Ankiel added a two-run homer and Ryan Zimmerman went 2-for-3 with an RBI and scored twice, extending his hitting streak to 15 games.

Livan Hernandez (6-11) gave up nine hits and nine runs -- seven earned -- over 3 2/3 innings to lose for the third time in his last four decisions.

"His stuff wasn't as sharp, and when he's not on bad things happen," Washington manager Davey Johnson said of his starter.

Fowler's two-run triple highlighted Colorado's four-run third inning, which was energized by a Hernandez throwing error. Eric Young Jr.'s sacrifice bunt was picked up by Hernandez, but his throw was wide of first, allowing Iannetta to score. Fowler followed with his hit to right field and Tulowitzki capped the frame with a sacrifice fly.

Morse's RBI double keyed Washington's two-run fourth, but the Rockies pulled away with a five-spot in the bottom half, helped by solo homers from Wigginton and Iannetta. Gonzalez and Tulowitzki added RBI hits in the frame.

Morse drove in another run in the fifth and Ankiel's blast, combined with a Zimmerman run-scoring double and Morse's RBI base hit, got the visitors within 9-7 in the sixth.

The Rockies, though, kept up the pressure as Tulowitzki doubled in a run in the bottom of the same inning. The Rockies then put together four straight hits against Todd Coffey and Sean Burnett in the seventh. Young doubled in a run and Fowler added a two-run single for a 13-7 cushion.

Colorado added two more in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch.

Game Notes

Hernandez fell to 7-12 lifetime against the Rockies...Colorado posted its second win in seven games...Zimmerman's 15-game hit streak is the longest posted by a National since his own 16-gamer, July 27-August 13, 2009...As part of their roster moves, the Rockies also placed outfielder Ryan Spilborghs and Nicasio on the DL, and recalled right-handed pitcher Greg Reynolds from Triple- A Colorado Springs.