Anthony Rendon belted a go-ahead homer to lead off the seventh inning as the host Washington Nationals recorded a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday in the opening game of a doubleheader.
Adam Eaton homered to lead off the fifth inning and Gerardo Parra worked a bases-loaded walk for the Nationals, who have won 12 of their last 15 home contests.
Ryan McMahon had a run-scoring single among his two RBIs and Yonder Alonso ripped a pair of doubles and scored twice for the reeling Rockies, who have dropped eight of their last nine games.
Carlos Estevez (1-1) entered the contest to begin the seventh inning and saw Rendon deposit his first-pitch changeup just over the wall in left-center field to give Washington a 3-2 lead. Rendon’s homer was his team-leading 21st of the season and first since July 4.
Wander Suero (3-5) overcame a single and a balk during his one scoreless inning of work to pick up the win. Fernando Rodney bridged the gap to Sean Doolittle, who struck out a pair to retire the side in the ninth for his 22nd save.
Chad Bettis relieved starter Jon Gray (one run, two hits allowed in four innings) to begin the fifth inning and saw Eaton send his first-pitch curveball over the wall in right field to give the Nationals a 2-1 lead. Eaton’s homer was his seventh of the season and first since belting a solo shot in Washington’s 5-2 win over San Diego on June 9.
The advantage was short-lived, however, as the Rockies forged a tie at 2 in the sixth inning. Alonso doubled with two outs and advanced to third after Raimel Tapia’s slow bouncer caromed off second base as part of an error by shortstop Trea Turner. Alonso came home on McMahon’s single to shallow left field.
Colorado answered its lopsided series-opening 11-1 loss to Washington by opening the scoring in the fourth inning. Alonso ripped a double to right field to lead off the frame before advancing to third on a groundout and coming home on McMahon’s sacrifice fly to left.
Washington answered in the bottom of the inning as Gray issued three of his five walks in a span of five batters, with the last free pass to Parra forcing in a run.
Like his starter counterpart, Washington’s Erick Fedde only went four innings, giving up a run on three hits with two strikeouts and two walks.
–Field Level Media
