Vinny Castilla Appreciation Day Top 5:
5. Quick Recap: The Colorado Rockies jumped out to an early lead on Jordan Zimmermann in the second inning tonight in Coors Field with Ben Paulsen doubling to right for his first extra base hit in the majors and scoring one out later on an RBI triple to right by second baseman DJ LeMahieu. 1-0 after two in the second game of three for the Washington Nationals in Denver.
#RoxReplay: @DJLeMahieu gave the #Rockies the lead with an RBI triple in the 2nd: http://t.co/RAdI7ROGaz
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 23, 2014
Nolan Arenado took Jordan Zimmermann deep for the Rockies' first home run off the right-hander in 46+ innings against him in his career with two down in the bottom of the third, hitting a full-count fastball out to center two outs after Josh Rutledge tripled to right to start the frame. 3-0 Colorado.
#RoxReplay: Nolan Arenado launched a 2-run shot in the 3rd: http://t.co/1a7p7Y5Wcl #Rockies
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 23, 2014
The Nationals finally scored on Yohan Flande in the fifth with Bryce Harper walking to start the frame, taking third on a double by Ian Desmond and scoring on a groundout to short by Wilson Ramos. Desmond moved up a base on the groundout by Ramos too, so a sac fly to center by Jordan Zimmermann got the Nats within one. 3-2 after four and a half in Coors Field.
A half-inning after the Nationals pulled within one, Corey Dickerson crushed a 1-0 changeup from Zimmermann and hit one into the second deck in right field to give the Rockies a 4-2 lead. HR no.12 of 2014 for Dickerson.
#Nats get 2 runs in the T5 but Corey Dickerson hits his 12th home run of the season. Rox 4-2. B5
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 23, 2014
Anthony Rendon doubled to start the sixth, took third one out later on a single to right by Adam LaRoche and scored on an RBI groundout by Ryan Zimmerman that made it 4-3. Wilson Ramos hit a two-out single to center after a single by Bryce Harper and a HBP on Ian Desmond and the Nationals tied it up at 4-4 after five and a half.
WATCH: Tie ballgame! The #Nats and #Rockies are all tied at 4 after the #Nats sixth-inning rally: http://t.co/WyEtbsuUWZ
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 23, 2014
The Nationals took the lead in the seventh on a three-run blast by Adam LaRoche which followed a leadoff walk by Denard Span, a line drive single to right by Anthony Rendon and a swinging K by Jayson Werth. LaRoche's 13th HR of the year made it 7-4 Nationals.
WATCH: Boom! @e3LaRoche launches a three-run home run and the #Nats take a 7-4 lead! http://t.co/LLg79VzOfe
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 23, 2014
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Top of the 1st at Coors Field. (http://t.co/n3pMpTBuLW) pic.twitter.com/jutVQMOzsF
— Empty Seats Galore (@EmptySeatsPics) July 23, 2014
4. ASZ: For the second year in a row, 28-year-old Washington Nationals' right-hander Jordan Zimmermann was named to the NL roster for the All-Star Game but was unable to pitch in the Midsummer Classic.
Last season it was a neck issue that kept Zimmermann from taking the mound in New York's Citi Field.
This season it was a right bicep strain that sidelined the Nats' '07 2nd Round pick after he felt discomfort in his arm during the final start of the first-half of his sixth major league season.
Zimmermann left the mound after just 3 ⅓ IP in Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park, but he gave up six hits and four walks before he was done and took the loss in what ended up a 6-2 game in the Phillies' favor.
The loss left the Auburndale, Wisconsin-born Nats' starter (6-5) on the year with a 3.03 ERA, a 2.77 FIP, 20 walks (1.59 BB/9) and 101 Ks (8.04 K/9) in 19 starts and 113 IP.
One of his 19 starts, back in late June, was against the same Colorado club he faced tonight.
Zimmermann held the Rockies to two runs on seven hits in six innings of work in the nation's capital back on June 30th in the final start of a dominant month on the mound in which he put up a 1.43 ERA, a 1.99 FIP, six walks (1.23 BB/9) and 41 Ks (8.39 K/9) in 44 IP over which he held opposing hitters to a combined .189/.221/.250 line.
Williams said they'll monitor Jordan Zimmermann closely, but he's not under any different pitch count than normal. Coming off biceps strain.
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) July 22, 2014
July started with seven scoreless innings on the mound against the Chicago Cubs in Nationals Park, but then the bicep issue came up in his second start of the month.
The All-Star Break allowed Zimmermann to rest and avoid a stint on the DL and after the MRI on his arm revealed no structural damage he took a few days off before he resumed throwing activities last Thursday and got a bullpen session in over the weekend while preparing for tonight's start.
Zimmermann finished the first-half with a 3.16 ERA, a 2.81 FIP and a .237/.268/.376 line against in 51 ⅓ IP on the road over which he walked seven (1.23 BB/9) and K'd 53 (9.29 K/9).
His first start of the second half tonight was against a Rockies franchise he's dominated in his career.
The win in June left him (5-0) in seven starts against the Rockies, over which has a 1.64 ERA, 13 walks (2.66 BB/9) and 34 Ks (6.95 K/9) in 44 IP in which he's held Colorado hitters to a combined .244/.295/.275 line.
In Coors Field, he was (2-0) in three starts before tonight's with a 2.70 ERA, nine walks (4.86 BB/9) and 12 Ks (6.48 K/9) in 16 ⅔ IP over which Rockies' hitters have put a combined .302/.384/.349 line.
The fourth start of his career in Denver, CO's 19-year-old stadium began with a grounder to first...
1st: Charlie Blackmon reached base on a grounder to first that bounced off Adam LaRoche's glove. Josh Rutledge lined to center for the first out of the frame. Corey Dickerson doubled to left on an opposite field fly that bounced into the stands on one hop. Carlos Gonzalez K'd swinging at a 95 mph 2-2 fastball high in the zone for out no.2. Nolan Arenado stepped in with two on and two out and lined out to Denard Span in center to strand two runners. 17-pitch first for Zimmermann.
2nd: Ben Paulsen doubled to right on a 1-1 curve up in the zone inside. Wilin Rosario's groundout to second moved the runner over and Paulsen scored on an RBI triple to right by DJ Lemahieu. 1-0 Rockies. Yohan Flande K'd swinging, however, and Charlie Blackmon popped up to short to end a 15-pitch frame. 32 total after two.
3rd: Josh Rutledge tripled to right to start the bottom of the third. Corey Dickerson lined out to short for the first out of the frame. Carlos Gonzalez worked the count full but K'd swinging on another high heater for out no.2. Zimmermann got up 1-2 on Nolan Arenado, but gave up a two-run home run on a 95 mph fastball up in the zone. Ben Paulsen grounded out to second to end the third after 21 pitches with Zimmermann up to 53 overall.
4th: Wilin Rosario K'd looking at a 1-2 fastball for the first out of the fourth. DJ LeMahieu singled to right on a 93 mph 1-1 fastball outside and moved up to second when Yohan Flande bunted him over/gave up an out, but the runner was stranded there when Charlie Blackmon K'd swinging through a 95 mph 1-2 fastball to end a 14-pitch fourth by Zimmermann, which left him at 67 pitches overall after four.
5th: Josh Rutledge lined out to left on the first pitch from Jordan Zimmermann in the bottom of the fifth, but Corey Dickerson got all of a 1-0 change in the next at bat and it landed in the second deck in right field in Coors Field for a solo blast and a 4-2 Rockies' lead. Carlos Gonzalez K'd looking at a high 2-2 heater for out no.2. Nolan Arenado's line drive to left made its way into Bryce Harper's mitt. Nine-pitch frame. 86 total after five.
The line on Jordan Zimmermann: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K – 76 pitches, 53 strikes. He will not get a decision. pic.twitter.com/nteRMOK6Y5
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 23, 2014
• Jordan Zimmermann's Line: 5.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 Ks, 76 P, 53 S, 3/1 GO/FO.
3. Yohan Flande: The Colorado Rockies' 28-year-old left-hander, Yohan Flande, made 163 starts and was seven and a ⅓ innings shy of 1,000 IP in the minors with Philadelphia, Atlanta and Colorado before he made his MLB debut in Coors Field back on June 25th.
The second major league start of his career took place in Nationals Park on June 30th, when the 6'2'' southpaw surrendered six hits, a walk and three runs in 5 ⅓ IP in a 7-3 loss to the Nats.
Flande ended the first half of his 2014 campaign with a loss to the Dodgers at home in Coors Field, which left him (0-2) with a 7.36 ERA in 14 ⅔ IP, over which opposing hitters have put up a .350/.385/.517 line against him.
In his fourth major league outing, Flande was facing a Nationals team that after connecting for nine hits and drawing four walks from Rockies' lefty Franklin Morales in the series opener, entered today's game with a .280/.341/.410 line, good for first in the NL in AVG (ahead of the Rockies at .276), first in OBP (ahead of the Braves at .333) and fourth in SLG (behind the Braves at .418, the Cubs at .424 and the Rockies at .456).
#Nats @ #Rockies: Span CF, Rendon2B, Werth RF, LaRoche1B, Zimmerman 3B, Harper LF, Desmond SS, Ramos C, Zimmermann P pic.twitter.com/f04DrbQokT
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 22, 2014
The Nationals went down in order in a nine-pitch top of the first by Flande in the second game of three with the Rockies in Coors Field.
Bryce Harper walked with two down in the second, but was thrown out at third trying to take an extra base on a two-out single to center by Ian Desmond. Two scoreless on 30 pitches for Flande after a 21-pitch second.
The Nats went down in order in an 11-pitch third by the Rockies' lefty, who was through three scoreless on 41 pitches.
Anthony Rendon singled to start the top of the fourth, moved to second and then third on back-to-back groundouts, but was stranded there when Ryan Zimmerman lined out to right to end a 17-pitch frame. 58 pitches total after four scoreless by Flande.
Bryce Harper walked to start the top of the fifth inning and took third on Ian Desmond's seventh straight hit to start the series. Desmond's double was his 17th of the season, and a groundout by Wilson Ramos advanced both runners. 3-1 Rockies when Harper scored. 3-2 when Desmond came in on a sac fly to center by Jordan Zimmermann. 15-pitch frame by Flande, 73 total after five.
Anthony Rendon doubled to center to start the Nationals' sixth, and one out later took third on a single to right by Adam LaRoche...
That was it for Flande, who was up to 82 pitches when he was lifted.
• Yohan Flande's Line: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 0 HR, 82 P, 54 S, 11/0 GO/FO.
2. Turning Points: Jordan Zimmermann struck Carlos Gonzalez out with a 95 mph 2-2 fastball and Denard Span caught a line drive to center off Nolan Arenado's bat as the Rockies failed to make anything out of a 2nd/3rd, one out opportunity in the first.
Ian Desmond was 6 for 6 in the series in Coors Field after a two-out single in the second, but Bryce Harper, who walked in the previous at bat, was thrown out trying to take third on the hit. It looked like he was safe on the replay, but the umpires confirmed the original call... incorrectly...
@federalbaseball @AltaKocker pic.twitter.com/shM0fVAL66
— David Morris (@DavidMorris9656) July 23, 2014
Jordan Zimmermann almost worked his way around a leadoff triple in the third, retiring two batters without the run coming in, but a 3-2 fastball up in the zone to Nolan Arenado ended up sailing over the center field fence for a two-run home run and a 3-0 Rockies' lead.
The Nationals rallied to tie it at 4-4 in the sixth, however, with Ryan Zimmerman and Wilson Ramos driving in runs, but what might be a turning point in the big picture occurred on Zimmerman's grounder, which brought in a run, but caused him to injure his hamstring as he ran to first. Zimmerman left the game. Ramos tied it up with a two-out single, but all of NatsTown will be waiting on the reports on Zimmerman.
WINNER (Turning Point of the Night): Adam LaRoche really turned things around in the seventh, taking a 2-0 fastball from Rockies' left-hander Rex Brothers for a ride and a three-run blast that made it 7-4 Nats.
#WerthGoesGnome was so excited after yesterday's #CurlyW he snuck back into Coors Field early! Only 7hrs til gametime pic.twitter.com/dPlueTONun
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 22, 2014
1. The Wrap-Up: Right-handed reliever Chad Bettis took over on the mound for the Rockies with runners on first and third with one out in the sixth. Ryan Zimmerman grounded into a force at second on a 1-2 slider to bring a run in and injured himself on the way to first. 4-3 Nationals. Bryce Harper singled to center in the next at bat, sending Danny Espinosa around to third with two down. Ian Desmond was HBP in his two-out at bat, bringing Wilson Ramos to the plate, and it was tied at 4-4 after Ramos singled to center with two down.
Craig Stammen took over on the mound for Jordan Zimmermann in the bottom of the sixth and gave up a leadoff single by Ben Paulsen and a one-out single by DJ LeMahieu, but pinch hitter Brandon Barnes grounded into an inning-ending 5-4-3. Still 4-4.
Brooks Brown took over on the mound for the Rockies in the top of the seventh and walked Denard Span to start the inning. Anthony Rendon lined a single to left to put two on in front of Jayson Werth, who K'd swinging on a fastball up in the zone. Rex Brothers came on to face Adam LaRoche with two on and one out... and LaRoche went yard. 3-run HR. 7-4 Nats.
Drew Storen took the mound with a three-run lead on the bottom of the seventh. Josh Rutledge singled to right with one down. Corey Dickerson K'd swinging at an 0-2 slider for out no.2. Carlos Gonzalez sent Rutledge around to third with a two-out single to center. Nolan Arenado stepped in as the tying run, but grounded weakly to third to end the seventh.
Matt Belisle threw a scoreless eighth for the Rockies.
Tyler Clippard threw a quick, 11-pitch, 1-2-3 eighth.
Nick Masset gave up a one-out double by Jayson Werth, but threw a scoreless top of the ninth.
Pitch it, Soriano! Pitch it, Soriano! Strike'em out, Soriano! Strike'em out, Soriano! Rafael Soriano took the mound in the bottom of the ninth in his second chance for save no.23 of 2014 and gave up a leadoff double by pinch hitter Drew Stubbs. Charlie Blackmon K'd swinging for out no.1. ONE! Stubbs took third with Josh Rutledge up. Rutledge battled for 10 pitches, but popped to short right for out no.2. Corey Dickerson fell behind 1-2 and sent a fly to the track in left where Bryce Harper caught out no.3.
Work's done! Untuck that jersey, son!!
Nationals now 55-43