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Hawpe, Rockies top Nationals

Aug 16, 2008 - 4:07 AM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- In a disappointing season for the Colorado Rockies, Brad Hawpe has been a happy exception.

Hawpe's two-run home run keyed a three-run fifth inning as the Rockies registered a 4-3 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday.

With Colorado trailing, 2-1, in the fifth, Seth Smith singled with two outs and scored on a double by Matt Holliday, a ball misjudged by Nationals center fielder Lastings Milledge. Hawpe followed with his 20th home run, a shot to right field off Tim Redding (8-8) that put the Rockies ahead. Of Hawpe's 20 home runs, 12 have either tied a game or given Colorado the lead.

"Those are situations you want to be in," Hawpe said. "I enjoy it. I just like the situations. To be able to change a game is something special. If I get that opportunity, I'm really looking forward to it."

Jorge De La Rosa (6-6) won for the fourth time in his last six starts, pitching six solid innings. He allowed three runs and six hits while walking three and striking out seven.

Manager Clint Hurdle joked about De La Rosa's wildness. He threw two wild pitches and has 12 this season.

"You look at his line," Hurdle said "He almost pitched for the cycle. (Catcher Chris) Iannetta blocked 27 balls in six innings. He did a yeoman's job behind the plate. He spent more time in the dirt than he spent in the crouch."

Manny Corpas and Taylor Buchholz bridged the gap to Brian Fuentes, who struck out the side in the ninth for his 23rd save.

The Nationals, who lost their eighth straight game, took a 1-0 lead in the first on Ronnie Belliard's single. But Troy Tulowitzki belted his fourth homer with one out in the third to tie the contest.

Washington regained the lead on Ryan Zimmerman's RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

Milledge admitted that he misplayed Holliday's double. He broke in for a moment, and by then, the ball was over his head.

"It kind of rose on me. I didn't make the play. I should have made the play," Milledge said.

Redding wasn't terribly forgiving.

"One play changes the game," Redding said. "We should have won this game 3-1. The [Hawpe] home run never should have happened."

Willy Taveras stole two bases for the Rockies, giving him a franchise-record 55. He broke the mark of 53 set in 1996 by Eric Young.

"It's always exciting when you do stuff like that, especially when you win a ballgame," Taveras said. "If I get one, I'm going to try and steal."

Redding, who has lost five of his last six games, allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings.