• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Hawpe keys six-run eighth as Rockies slow down Nationals

Aug 6, 2008 - 4:51 AM By Brady Delander PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Washington Nationals' bullpen provided relief for the wrong team.

One inning after Ian Stewart hit his first career pinch hit home run to put the Colorado Rockies in the game, Brad Hawpe raked a two-run single in the eighth to rally his club past the Nationals, 8-2, on Tuesday night.

The Nationals collapsed in that eighth inning, with three relievers combining to walk in two runs in a six-run debacle, snapping Washington's four-game winning streak.

"It's something I don't think I've seen in baseball," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "I don't think I've seen (four) walks and two hit batsmen in one inning."

Both starters - John Lannan for the Nationals and Jorge De La Rosa for the Rockies - pitched well through seven innings. Lannan allowed five hits and struck out eight, while De La Rosa gave up six hits and recorded six strikeouts.

"Three of those six hits were fisted," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle noted about De La Rosa's performance.

Jesus Flores helped Washington to an early lead with a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Austin Kearns for a 1-0 advantage.

The Nationals benefited from the Rockies' miscue in the fifth inning when Ryan Langerhans scored on a wild pitch from De La Rosa to increase the lead to 2-0.

Lannan kept Colorado's offense all but silent until Stewart hit the two-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning. It was Stewart's first career pinch home run.

"I'd bet a lot of money the he wasn't thinking about a home run," Hurdle said.

Stewart, whose blast reached the second deck, admitted otherwise.

"It probably crossed my mind. ? I'll take the result," Stewart said.

With Lannan out of the game, Colorado jumped on Washington's relievers. Matt Holliday hit a looping double that dropped just inside the right-field line, Atkins drew a walk and Chris Iannetta got hit by a pitch from Luis Ayala.

Ayala was sent packing for Charlie Manning, but the pitching change did more harm than good. Hawpe singled to center field on the first pitch, scoring Holliday and Atkins to complete the Rockies' rally.

"I like that opportunity. I like the situation to be up there and have the chance to come through for the team," Hawpe said of going to the plate with the bases loaded and the game tied.

Manning then delivered back-to-back walks, one with the bases loaded, to pad Colorado's lead. Another reliever, Saul Rivera, stepped in and promptly beaned Willy Taveras to give the Rockies another run.

"In this game, anything can happen," Rockies third baseman Clint Barmes said of the wild eighth inning. "Obviously, you don't see something like that at this level, but we had some quality at-bats when we needed to."

Colorado is 13-6 since the All-Star break, the second-best record in the majors behind the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim during that time.

"If we can double up wins vs. losses in the second half, we will be in a good place," Hurdle said.

Kearns and Ronnie Belliard finished with two hits each for the Nationals.