Gio Gonzalez picked up his 100th career win as the Washington Nationals beat the Colorado Rockies 8-5
Tonight, in the series opener against the Colorado Rockies, two Washington Nationals set career milestones. Gio Gonzalez recorded his 100th career win on the mound while Daniel Murphy picked up career RBI number 500. Murphy also hit his 25th home run of the season as the Nats defeated the Rockies 8-5.
Jayson Werth got the scoring started in the bottom of the first when he hit a solo home run to left field against Rockies starter Jeff Hoffman. It was Werth’s 18th home run of the season and his second in as many games.
Colorado did tie the game in the top of the second against Gonzalez. After back-to-back one out singles, Daniel Descalso tied the game at one with a sacrifice fly to left that drove in Ryan Raburn.
One inning later, Trea Turner’s speed helped the Nats get the lead back. Turner led off with an infield single and reached second base on an error. Two batters later, after Turner went to third on a pickoff error, Murphy hit a groundout to first to give the Washington Nationals back the lead, 2-1.
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The Rockies were able to tie the game at two when Raburn and Nick Hundley hit back-to-back doubles with one out. But, the Nats took the lead again in the bottom of the inning. After loading the bases with no one out, Jose Lobaton grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, but it was enough to score a run.
In the bottom of the fifth, Murphy hit a solo home run to right center to double the Nats lead to two. It was Murphy’s 25th home run of the season and the 500th RBI of his career.
Hoffman went six innings, gave up four runs (three earned) on six hits, struck out three, and walked four on 95 pitches (59 strikes) in his second career start as his record dropped to 0-2.
As for Gonzalez, he put together a quality outing. The left-hander went six innings, gave up two runs on four hits, struck out five, and walked one on 85 pitches (52 strikes) to pick up his 100th career win.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Washington Nationals broke the game open against the Rockies bullpen. Turner started the inning with a single and stolen base. Then, Werth drove him in with a double to center field. Two batters later, with the score 5-2, Bryce Harper hit a two-run triple off the wall in right center. The final run of the inning came on a sacrifice fly by Anthony Rendon. All four runs were scored against Matt Carasiti.
During the top of the eighth, Marc Rzepczynski made his Washington Nationals debut. He struck out one and hit a batter in 1/3 of an inning.
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The Rockies would attempt a comeback in the top of the ninth when Hundley hit a three-run home run to left center against Shawn Kelley. Two batters after that home run, Mark Melancon came in and struck out Cristhian Adames to end the game.
Next Game: The Washington Nationals will play the second game of their three game series against the Colorado Rockies tomorrow afternoon. You can watch the game on MASN2 at 1:05 p.m ET. A.J. Cole (0-1, 5.14 ERA) will get the start for the Nats against Jorge De La Rosa (8-7, 5.07) for the Rockies.