Nationals 3 - 6 Rockies
Final
  for this game

Tulowitzki, Rockies hold off Nationals

Aug 5, 2011 - 5:12 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Troy Tulowitzki had three hits, including a solo home run, and two runs scored to lead the Colorado Rockies past the Washington Nationals, 6-3, in the opener of a four-game weekend series.

Eric Young Jr. knocked in two runs for the Rockies to help snap a four-game losing streak.

Esmil Rogers (5-1) allowed one run while scattering seven hits and two walks through 5 2/3 innings. He also struck out six in his first start since April 25. He has made three appearances out of the Rockies' bullpen since then.

"Tonight's game begins with pitching and Esmil Rogers did a great job. Once he got himself out of the first inning, everything picked up," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.

Ross Detwiler (1-1) went five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks for the loss in his second start of the year.

Ryan Zimmerman had three hits and two RBI to extend his hit streak to 13 games in Washington's second straight loss.

Rick Ankiel led off the game with a single, moved to second on a Danny Espinosa groundout and crossed the plate on a base hit to center by Michael Morse to give the Nationals a lead they held till the fourth inning.

After a one-out walk to Todd Helton, Tulowitzki slapped a soft liner into right for the Rockies' first hit of the game. Ty Wigginton followed with a base hit of his own to plate Helton and knot the game at one.

Chris Nelson then hit a third consecutive single for Colorado, but right fielder Jayson Werth charged the ball and made a strong throw home. The ball beat Tulowitzki to the plate and he was tagged out by Wilson Ramos. Ryan Spilborghs then lined out to short to end the inning.

Chris Iannetta doubled to lead off the fifth, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rogers and came home on a single up the middle by Young, giving Colorado a 2-1 lead.

Tulowitzki led off the sixth with a home run over left-center field wall off of Collin Balester to give the Rockies a little more cushion.

Colorado then put the game away in the eighth. Ryan Mattheus started the frame for Washington and allowed the first four batters to reach base. Helton worked a leadoff walk and Tulowitzki doubled over the head of Ankiel in center to put men on second and third. Wigginton was intentionally walked to fill the bags, and Nelson hit a hard liner into right, scoring Helton.

Mattheus got the first out of the inning by fanning pinch-hitter Seth Smith, but then hit Iannetta on the arm with a high-and-inside fastball to bring in Tulowitzki. After pinch-hitter Ian Stewart popped up, Young worked a walk to plate Wigginton. Dexter Fowler grounded out to second to end the inning, but not before the Rockies extended their lead to 6-1.

Zimmerman added a two-run double off of Huston Street in the ninth to finalize the scoring.

The Nationals threatened throughout the game, but just could not find a way to get the big hit they needed. They left runners in scoring position in the second, third, fifth, sixth and ninth innings, and ended the game hitting 2- for-11 with runners in scoring position. They also left 10 men on base.

"We got the guy in trouble three innings in a row and we never got to him," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said of Rogers. "Everybody else seems to, but I thought we had the right guys up there. We just didn't make it happen."

Game Notes

Colorado has won six of its last seven games against Washington...The Rockies went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base.






Related News