Craig Stammen allowed just two hits through five innings pitched tonight, one of the hits a HR, the other a meaningless single, and as the sixth innings began, the Washington Nationals led the visiting Colorado Rockies by a 2-1 score. The Nationals had answered Rockies' right fielder Brad Hawpe's second-inning HR off Stammen with a two-run second of their own off Colorado right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, the result of a two-out HBP, a run-scoring double and an RBI single, with Wil Nieves hit, Craig Stammen doubling and Nyjer Morgan singling in the go-ahead run in the form Alberto Gonzalez, who'd ground into a force at second with one down. Stammen took the mound in the sixth, facing the Rockies' order from the top for the third time, and he proceeded to surrender two-straight one-out singles, before throwing a wild pitch, and walking the bases loaded, forcing DC Manager Jim Riggleman to replace him with lefty Ron Villone, who got a groundout but gave up the tying run. 2-2.
Washington's right-handed reliever Jason Bergmann got the Nationals out of the sixth and threw a scoreless seventh before being lifted for pinch hitter Willie Harris, who singled to start the DC's seventh but was stranded on third three outs later. Sean Burnett started the eighth on the hill for DC against the Rockies' leadoff hitter, Carlos Gonzalez, and Burnett threw a first-pitch slider up and out over the plate that was lined into the right field bullpen so quick all Nationals' right fielder Elijah Dukes could do was turn to watch. 3-2 Rockies. After issuing a one-out walk, Burnett was replaced by Tyler Clippard, who K'd the first three Colorado batters he faced and then gave up a HR to center to Clint Barmes, 4-2 Rockies, which ended up being the winning run after Washington rallied for one in the ninth but fell short.
Rockies win, 4-3 final.
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For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP...
Colorado Rockies At Washington Nationals. Game 119 Of 162.
(ed. note - "Syracuse, NY's Finest, And the #1 Syracuse Chiefs' Fan ryzim22 Covered The First Two Innings. Thanks.")
Carlos Gonzalez grounds out to Alberto Gonzalez at second. Dexter Fowler strikes out on a breaking ball. Todd Helton lines out to shortstop Christian Guzman, (DC righty Craig Stammen through one)…. Nyger Morgan singles on a ground ball in between first and second. Nyger Morgan steals second on the first pitch to Cristian Guzman from Rockies' righty Ubaldo Jimenez. Guzman strikes out looking. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to shallow center where Dexter Fowler makes the grab. Adam Dunn strikes out swinging on a high fastball to end the inning.
Troy Tulowitzki lines a rocket to Ryan Zimmerman for the first out. Brad Hawpe hits his 17th home run of the season to left center that just gets over the fence. 1-0 Rockies. Garret Atkins grounds out to shortstop. Clint Barmes flies out to very shallow center to end the inning…. Josh Willingham breaks his bat on a soft liner to shortstop. Elijah Dukes beats out a broken bat infield single to shortstop. Elijah Dukes is forced out at second on a slow roller to short by Alberto Gonzalez who reaches first. Wil Nieves is drilled in the arm by a Jimenez fastball to put runners on first and second. Craig Stammen lines a double past Helton down the first base line. Alberto Gonzalez scores. Wil Nieves to third. 1-1. Nyger Morgan slaps a single past the third baseman. Nieves scores. Stammen to third. 2-1 DC. Christian Guzman hits a hard ground ball to short for the third out.
Chris Iannetta K’s swinging to start the third. Ubaldo Jimenez goes back up the middle with a one-out single. Carlos Gonzalez grounds into a force at second but is too quick to get doubled up. Dexter Fowler takes a two-out walk, but Stammen gets a fly ball out from Todd Helton to end the top of the third...Ubaldo Jimenez walks Ryan Zimmerman with one down. Adam Dunn K’s looking. Josh Willingham doubles to left, moving Zimmerman around to third. Jimenez pops up Elijah Dukes and catches a line drive from Alberto Gonzalez to end the third.
Tulowitzki, Hawpe and Atkins. Groundout, groundout, groundout. Craig Stammen throws a quick 1-2-3 fourth...Wil Nieves rolls a weak grounder to second for Clint Barmes. Craig Stammen can throw them, but can’t recognize a two-strike curve. Nyjer Morgan grounds out to first to end the fourth.
Craig Stammen cruises through the fifth as well. Clint Barmes flies to right. Rockies’ catcher Chris Iannetta grounds to Zimmerman at third, and Stammen gets Jimenez swinging...Cristian Guzman lines out to third. Ryan Zimmerman grounds to third. Adam Dunn strikes out to third...strikes out.
Carlos Gonzalez skies the first out of the sixth to right for Elijah Dukes. Dexter Fowler drops a bloop single in front of Nyjer Morgan in center. Todd Helton lines to right field, Dukes grabs it on one hop and fires in to second. Stammen bounces a sinker off WIl Nieves’ knee to move both runner up. Stammen walks Troy Tulowitzki and DC Manager Jim Riggleman has seen enough. Ron Villone comes on for Brad Hawpe, who grounds out to second, but a run scores to tie it. 2-2. Jason Bergmann comes on and pops up Garrett Atkins with one pitch...Josh Willingham pops out. Garrett Atkins throws out Elijah Dukes on a grounder that starts the Nationals’ sixth. Alberto Gonzalez shoots a two-out single over center. Wil Nieves grounds into a force at second to end the sixth.
Jason Bergmann’s back out for the seventh. Clint Barmes K’s swinging through a two-strike heater. Chris Iannetta walks with one down. Ubaldon Jimenez will be bunting. Jimenez misses two attempts and has to swing and he grounds back to Bergmann to Guzman at second to Dunn, double play...Willie Harris strokes a leadoff single to right. Nyjer Morgan gets a sac bunt down to give Guzman a RISP. Guzman grounds out to second to move Morgan to third. Ryan Zimmerman grounds to second, but Barmes makes a diving stop and throw to end the seventh.
Sean Burnett comes on to face Carlos Gonzalez, and surrenders a leadoff HR to right and GONE!! 3-2 Rockies. Dexter Fowler pops out to short right. Burnett issues a one-out walk to Todd Helton, and that’s all for him. Tyler Clippard gets Troy Tulowitzki looking at a low fastball on the inside corner. Brad Hawpe gets the high heat and he K’s to end the Rockies’ eighth...Adam Dunn pops up to short to start the Nationals’ half. Josh Willingham flies out to right. Elijah Dukes sends the third out to left.
Tyler Clippard strikes out Ian Stewart for the first out of the ninth. Clint Barmes takes Clippard deeeep to right, and, GONE!! 4-2 Rockies. Seth Smith hits for the pitcher, or more accurately walks. Carlos Gonzalez grounds to short to end the inning...Huston Street vs Alberto Gonzalez in the bottom of the inning. Gonzalez singles to left to start the rally. Ronnie Belliard grounds to short, and into a force at second. Josh Bard pops out to right. Nyjer Morgan slices a liner just over short to put two on for Cristian Guzman lines to right and inside the line!! Belliard scores, Morgan to third, 4-3 Rockies. Ryan Zimmerman? Zimmerman flies out to left to end it. Rockies win, 4-3 final.
Nationals now 43-76.