Washington Nationals Fight Hard In 12-10 Loss To Rockies

Today, it was a rough day at Coors Field for Stephen Strasburg. He gave up nine runs in 1.2 innings during the Washington Nationals 12-10 loss.

Stephen Strasburg suffered the worst start of his Major League career, as the Washington Nationals lost to the Rockies 12-10 in the series finale. Strasburg’s struggles began right from the get go. In the bottom of the first, Strasburg allowed a leadoff double to Charlie Blackmon, a single to DJ LeMahieu, and a walk to David Dahl to load the bases. Strasburg was in trouble early and the Rockies made him pay.

Nolan Arenado laced an RBI single to left giving the Rockies an early 1-0 lead. The next batter, Gerardo Parra, cleared the bases with an RBI double, extending the lead to 4-0.

With one out, Tony Wolters drove in another run on an RBI double to right center making it 5-0. Jon Gray, the Rockies starting pitcher and ninth batter of the inning, came up next and kept the offense going. He scorched a two run double to center, making it a 7-0 lead in the first. Strasburg finally got out of the inning, but allowed 7 runs and threw 42 pitches in by far his worst inning of the year.

The Washington Nationals answered in the bottom of the second inning. Anthony Rendon continued his hot hitting, ripping an RBI double to left, scoring Bryce Harper and putting the Nats on the board. Brian Goodwin answered with an RBI single of his own, cutting the lead to 7-2.

After his offense got him two runs, Strasburg once again struggled in the second. After a walk to Arenado, Gerardo Parra hurt Strasburg again, lacing an RBI triple to left, making it 8-2. Ben Paulsen continued the onslaught with an RBI single off the glove of first baseman Daniel Murphy, to make it 9-2.

After another base hit, Koda Glover replaced Stephen Strasburg, who failed to make it through two innings for just the third time in his career, and allowed the most runs in any single start of his career.

In the top of the third inning, Jayson Werth worked a one out walk, bringing his on-base streak to 45 games in a row. One inning later, the Nats started to fight back. With two men on, pinch hitter Wilmer Difo ripped an RBI single to left, cutting the deficit to 9-3. The next batter, Trea Turner, hit a sac fly to center, scoring Danny Espinosa and making it 9-4.

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During the top of the fifth, Harper launched a two run homer to center, his 21st of the year, and continued to help the Nationals come back making it 9-6.

Oliver Perez, who came in to replace Glover, gave a run right back to Colorado, as Wolters hit a solo shot to make it 10-6. Perez was replaced by Matt Belisle with two on and no one out,

Against Belisle, LeMahieu ripped an RBI single to center, making it now an 11-6 game with still two on, and no one out. Belisle was able to minimize the damage to a degree, but did give up a sac fly to Arenado as the Rockies went up by six.

The Nats answered in the top of the sixth when Turner scored on a wild pitch to make it a 12-7 game. In the top half of the seventh inning, the Nats answered again. Pedro Severino launched his first Major League home run to left, cutting the deficit to 4 at 12-8.

Again, the Nats continued to fight back in the top of the eighth. Turner led off the inning with a triple and Werth drove him in with a sac fly to left cutting the Rockies lead to 12-9.

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The Nats did not go down without a fight in the bottom of the ninth. With two down, Chris Heisey launched a solo shot, his seventh of the year, cutting it to a 12-10 game with two outs. Scott Oberg struck out Espinosa for the final out.

Next Game: Tomorrow night, the Washington Nationals (70-49) begin a four game set against the Atlanta Braves (44-75) at Turner Field. Reynaldo Lopez (1-1 5.74) will get the ball for the Nats and will be opposed by Rob Whalen (1-1 7.31) for the Braves. You can catch the game at 7:05 p.m ET on MASN.

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