Colorado Rockies hang on for win against Nationals in high-scoring affair

The Colorado Rockies were involved in a high-scoring affair this afternoon against the Nationals in what was the last of a three-game set. The Rockies sent out seven different guys to the mound, but were able to hold off the Nationals to preserve the win.

Jon Gray entered the afternoon coming off of two difficult starts against Miami and Philadelphia looking to turn things around, but he had another bit of a rough showing today. The righty lasted just four innings and tossed 96 pitches over the course of his outing. He struck out three and walked just one, but allowed six hits.

The Rockies struck first, hammering Strasburg for seven runs in the first inning. Blackmon hit a leadoff double to center and LeMahieu singled him to third before David Dahl drew a walk to load the bases. Arenado singled home Chuck to start the scoring and the Rockies poured on the hurt with doubles from Parra, Wolters, and Gray to put them up 7-0 after the bottom half of the inning.

Bryce Harper started off the top of the second with a hit to left and scored on Rendon's double before Brian Goodwin singled Rendon home to put the score at 7-2. In the bottom half of the frame, Parra tripled to drive in Arenado and crossed the plate himself following Ben Paulsen's single. After allowing a subsequent hit to Tony Wolters, Strasburg was pulled from the game in favor of Koda Glover. Gray allowed a further pair of runs in the fourth.

Christian Bergman replaced Gray and started the fifth with the Rockies up 9-4 and promptly allowed a two-run homer to Bryce Harper, which put the score at 9-6. Wolters, however, answered with a shot of his own in the bottom half of the inning and LeMahieu and Arenado knocked in a run apiece to extend the Rockies' lead to 12-6.

Jordan Lyles replaced Bergman in the sixth and allowed a run on a wild pitch. Carasiti replaced him in the seventh and allowed a solo home run to Pedro Severino, which brought the score to 12-8. The Nationals continued to chip away at the Rockies lead in the eighth inning, scoring a run off of Carlos Estevez, who was then replaced by Boone Logan. Scott Oberg came in for the Rockies in the ninth and allowed a two-out home run to Chris Heisey, which put the Nationals behind by just two runs. Oberg, however, was able to retire the last batter to give the Rockies the win.