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Nationals win fourth straight, upend Rockies

Aug 5, 2008 - 5:50 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- Forget the dismal record. The party-like atmosphere in the Washington Nationals' clubhouse told a different story.

Rookie Emilio Bonifacio recorded three hits, including an RBI triple, and Willie Harris homered and drove in three runs as the Nationals posted a 9-4 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday.

"There's a lot of energy in our lineup now. We got guys out there who want to play and who are getting after it everyday," Harris said. "We fell behind but we grinded back. That just shows the character of this new team that we got."

With nine players younger than 25 years old on the roster, Washington (43-70) matched its season-long winning streak of four games and snapped a string of seven consecutive losses at Coors Field. The Nationals' last win here came in August 2005.

"Bonifacio continues to be a spark offensively and defensively. Flores continues to be a big RBI guy for us, and Willie Harris, even when we weren't doing good, was a bright spot for us," Nationals manager Manny Acta said.

Tim Redding (8-6) picked up just his second win in his past 14 starts, surrendering four runs while striking out six in five innings.

After one inning, the Rockies looked as if they might continue their home dominance over the Nationals.

Aaron Cook started with a 1-2-3 inning, and Matt Holliday had a run-scoring double and Brad Hawpe drove in two more with a single for an early 3-0 Colorado lead.

"The first inning, I just didn't feel right," Redding said. "Warming up my shoulder was a little tight. It never felt like it got loosened up. That first inning, I was just going out there seeing what I could do but at the same time trying to make pitches."

But the Nationals had other plans as Jesus Flores put up the club's first run with a solo homer to left field in the second inning to get his team started.

Washington took command in the third, thanks in part to some sloppy infield defense from the Rockies.

Redding and Bonifacio opened the inning with singles, and Harris dropped down a bunt in front of Cook, who looked for the force play at third base. But Cook's throw went deep into the outfield, allowing both runners to score and tie the game at 3-3.

Later in the third, another fielding miscue by Colorado helped Washington take a lead it would not relinquish.

With the bases loaded and one out, Flores grounded into what looked like a double play, but Troy Tulowitzki threw wild to first base after stepping on second. Harris trotted home for the inning's only earned run, and Lastings Milledge scored from second thanks to the error to put Washington ahead at 5-3.

"That inning hurt us, no doubt about that," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said.

Bonifacio extended the Nationals' lead with an RBI triple in the sixth and scored on a base hit by Harris, who also added a two-run blast in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

"I feel really good at the plate, seeing the ball well," Bonifacio said.

Cook (14-7) took the loss in an uncharacteristically sloppy outing. The Rockies' best arm this season allowed seven runs - four earned - and 11 hits. He committed an error and threw two wild pitches and eventually gave way to righthander Steven Register, who made his major league debut in relief.

"We knew Aaron Cook was going to be tough. He's one of the best in the game," Harris said. "He made a few mistakes and we were able to get a few hits off him and score runs. But you can't take anything away from that guy. He is what I like to call 'filthy.'"

Brad Hawpe finished with two hits and two RBI to pace Colorado.