Rockies and Nationals Battle, Split Series In DC

The Rockies were back on the road again last night, heading to play the Nats, aiming to avenge a rough series loss in last year's playoffs.  The Nats had apparently dug the trenches, as this series would start with a rout, but then evened out.

GAME 1

Rockies - 3

Nats - 17

Youch!  Would you believe this was just a 4-run game in the 7th?   The Nats did jump out on top 6-0 thanks to 3 runs in each of the first two frames.  But the game would be dull as dirt in innings 2-6.  Then the Rocks got a Matt Olson homer and an RBI groundout to close it to 6-2.  And then the whole damn truck fell apart!  The Nats would torch Aaron Bummer for 5 in the 7th, highlighted by a Suzuki 3-run homer to deep LF.  And then it would get worse in the 8th, when Aaron Civale let up 4 hits and two walks, and everyone scored thanks to a capping 3-run homer by Edmundo Sosa.  The Nats didn't waste opportunities.  They scored 17 runs on just 12 hits...3 Rockies errors, 7 walks, and 2 HBP aided their cause.  Also, there were a total of seven 1-10 chances at ballpark singles in this game between both teams, all missed!!

Starters - Martinez and Lodolo

WP - Lodolo  LP - Martinez  HR - Olson, Muncy, Suzuki, Sosa

GAME 2

Rockies - 3

Nationals -2 

The next 3 games of this series would feature fewer runs combined than game 1.  The Rocks used a timely sac fly and 2-out single by Matt Olson to stake Jack Flaherty to a 3-0 lead.  Flaherty would let up just one hit through 5, but he'd issue a walk and let up 2 hits in the 6th, and depart after that inning with just a thin 3-2 lead.  But it held up.  Clayton Beeter would shut the door on a bases loaded situation in the 7th, and the Nats would never truly challenge again.

Starters - Flaherty and Pivetta

WP - Flaherty  LP - Pivetta  SV - Mejia  HR - none

GAME 3

Rockies - 4

Nats - 2

Another game with very solid starting pitching.  Robbie Ray scattered 6 hits and held the Nats to just 2 runs through 7.  Christopher Sanchez was basically his equal, allowing 5 hits and 2 runs through 6.1.  The 8th was where the league's hottest hitter got involved though.  With the bases loaded and 2 outs, Jack Dreyer was facing Jung Hoo Lee.  Lee got his 2-column and laced a gap single...scoring the 2 the Rocks needed to grab the lead and win it!

Starters - Ray and Sanchez

WP - Ray  LP - Kinley  SV - Pagan  HR - Stephenson

GAME 4

Rockies - 1

Nats - 3

ANOTHER very tight game with great starters.  Tyler Glasnow and Tylor Megill each allowed just one run through 5 innings, and the bullpens, including Ben "Cardiac" Casparius, were solid.  Until the bottom of the 8th that is.  Caleb Thielbar was brought in, and pinch hitter Rhys Hoskins got him for a double right away.  Seiya Suzuki came up behind him and jumped on a 2-0 fastball and crushed it.  Nats up 3-1.  Tyler Kinley comes in and proves himself in the 9th.  Nats get the split!

Starters - Glasnow and Megill

WP - Santillan  LP - Thielbar  SV - Kinley  HR - Suzuki

Rockies hit just one homer for the series and truly did not hit a lot of anything in this one, so we'll take the split.  Rocks are 23-13.  Nats are 15-13.