Nats losing streak now at 10 after 7-2 loss to Rockies
It was the last of 20 games in 20 days, and the Nationals were looking to go into Monday, an off day, on a positive note. It didn't quite work out that way as Washington dropped their 10th straight game, 7-2 to Colorado.
They finished up the 20 games 6-14 and have been swept in their last three series, getting outscored 72-22.
Odalis Perez, who tossed another quality start, took the loss, his ninth of the season. Perez gave up three runs, only two earned in six solid innings.
With the Nationals leading 1-0 in the fourth and two Rockies on base, Perez served up a 2-2 fastball to Ian Stewart, who deposited it into the seats in center field for a 3-run dinger.
It would turn out to be all Colorado would need, but they tacked on four more in the eighth for good measure to trounce Washington 7-2. With the loss, the Rockies swept the Nationals in their 3-game series and handed Washington their season-long 10th consecutive loss.
Perez may not have been in that situation if Pete Orr didn't make an error on Chris Iannetta's grounder leading off the inning. Troy Tulowitzki followed with a walk before Stewart stroked his eighth homer of the season.
The Nationals can only blame themselves. They had more than one opportunity to score more than two runs.
In the second, Washington had runners on second and third with nobody out, but came away with only one run. Orr grounded out to first, scoring Ronnie Belliard to put the Nationals up 1-0.
Colorado, playing with the infield in, cut down Ryan Langerhans at the plate on a good play by Clint Barmes. Wil Nieves hit a chopper over the mound and Barmes, without hesitation fired to Iannetta to nail Langerhans just before he slid across the plate.
A bit of bad luck caused the Nationals at least a run in the fifth. Speedsters Emilio Bonifacio and Willie Harris were on first and second with one-out. Lastings Milledge doubled to the gap in left-center, scoring Bonifacio. The ball hopped over the fence for a ground-rule double and Harris had to remain at third.
Aaron Boone had a chance to drive in a run, but struck out. After Ronnie Belliard walked, Langerhans hit a harmless fly to right as Colorado starter Aaron Cook avoided a big inning.
Trailing 3-2 in the eighth, Charlie Manning gave up a solo home run to Brad Hawpe, to make it a 4-2 game. It was the only batter Manning would face.
Jesus Colome entered and he wasn't any better. Colome hit Iannetta and two batters later walked Stewart. Pinch-hitter Seth Smith then unloaded a 3-run missile to dead center to blow the game wide open.
Postgame Notes
With two more hits, Lastings Milledge is batting .366 in his last 18 games.
Wille Harris collected two more hits today and is hitting .301 with 24 RBI in 49 games since July 22.
The Nationals have Monday off before beginning a 6-game road trip that starts in Philadelphia and ends in Chicago. Ryan Zimmerman, Aaron Boone and Odalis Perez were asked if they would rather have tomorrow off or keep playing to get through this losing streak.
Clubhouse Audio: Ryan Zimmerman
Clubhouse Audio: Odalis Perez
Clubhouse Audio: Aaron Boone
Final Linescore
Rockies 7-7-1
Nationals 2-10-1
WP-Cook (15-8)
LP-Perez (5-9)
HR-Stewart (8), Hawpe (21), Smith (3)
Pete McElroy's Live Gameblog
Missed chance for Nats
Washington had a golden opportunity to at least tie the game in the sixth. Pete Orr and Wil Nieves singled to start the inning. Ryan Zimmerman, who didn't start, was pinch-hitting for Perez. Zimmerman flew out to left. It was Emilio Bonifacio's turn to get the Nationals third run, but he grounded into an inning ending double play.
Perez's solid outing
Chalk up another quality start for Odalis Perez, his fourth straight. He basically made one mistake and that was a 3-run tater that put the Rockies up 3-1. An error and walk before the homer certainly didn't help. Perez definitely struggled at times, but he managed to pitch himself out of trouble. He left the bases loaded in the first and stranded a runner on second in the second. He retired nine of the last 10 Rockies he faced
6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K, HR. 104 pitches, 64 strikes.
Nationals scoring, 5th inning
The top of the Nationals order got the team right back in the game in the bottom of the fifth.
With one-out, Emilio Bonifacio walked and Willie Harris singled. Lastings Milledge hit a 3-1 pitch into the gap in left-center scoring Bonifacio. Unfortunately, it bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double. With Harris' speed, he would have scored easily and tied the game 3-3.
After Aaron Boone struck out, Ronnie Belliard walked, on four pitches, to load the bases for Ryan Langerhans. Langerhans failed to produce and the Nationals left the bases loaded. Washington has left at least one runner on base in every inning.
Rockies scoring, 4th inning
Errors and walks will almost always come back to haunt a pitcher and for Odalis Perez, the fourth inning turned into a nightmare.
Pete Orr booted a routine grounder to start the inning. Perez then walked Troy Tulowitzki. Ian Stewart followed by launching a 2-2 pitch deep into the seats in center field. Because of the error, only two of the three runs were earned.
Perez thru 3 innings
Odalis is doing a good job of mixing up his pitches and keeping the Rockies hitters off balance. He's given up two hits, both to Willy Tavares and walked three, but he's been able to use his veteran savvy to pitch around trouble. Perez looks very relaxed on the mound, almost too relaxed, but it's working for him.
3 IP, 2 H, 3 BB. 45 pitches, 24 strikes
Nationals scoring, 2nd inning
The bottom of the Nationals order got Odalis Perez a run in the second and a little breathing room.
Ronnie Belliard led-off with a single, followed by Ryan Langerhans' double. Pete Orr's slow roller to first scored Belliard and moved Langerhans to third. With the infield playing in, Wil Nieves hit a chopper over the mound. Langerhans broke for home as Clint Barmes fielded the ball and threw to the plate. It was a bang-bang play. Home plate umpire Mike Estabrook called Langerhans out, bringing Manny Acta out of the dugout, to no avail.
Nationals 1st inning
Aaron Cook nearly gave a run away in the bottom of the inning, but a great defensive play by second baseman Clint Barmes saved him. With Willie Harris on first, Lastings Milledge hit a comebacker to Cook. Cook threw to second for the double play, but his throw sailed wide. Barmes backing up on the play, caught the ball and fired to first to get Milledge. Aaron Boone grounded out to end the inning.
Perez in 1st inning
Odalis Perez got off to a rockie start against Colorado, no pun intended, but managed to get out of the inning without giving up a run.
Willy Taveras hit a one-out doubled to left and stole second, his 58th of the year. After Matt Holliday flew out to center, Perez walked Garrett Atkins and Brad Hawpe to load the bases. Chris Iannetta hit a deep fly to right that Ryan Langerhans caught on the warning track.
Starting Line-Ups
Rockies:
2B Clint Barmes
CF Willy Tavares
LF Matt Holliday
1B Garrett Atkins
RF Brad Hawpe
C Chris Iannetta
SS Troy Tulowitzki
3B Ian Stewart
P Aaron Cook
Nationals:
2B Emilio Bonifacio
LF Willie Harris
CF Lastings Milledge
1B Aaron Boone
3B Ronnie Belliard
RF Ryan Langerhans
SS Pete Orr
C Wil Nieves
P Odalis Perez
Game Preview
Colorado (56-69) at Nationals (44-80)
I'm getting tired of writing about it and you're tired of hearing about the Nationals losing streak, which is at nine games, matching their season long, which they have done twice before.
Last night John Lannan was tagged with the loss in the Rockies 13-6 win. He gave up eight runs, all earned, in just four innings. Lannan walked four batters and all four ended up scoring. After the game, Lannan admitted "he just wasn't there mentally and I didn't prepare myself."
With the game all but decided, Washington's offense got to Livan Hernandez, scoring four times in the sixth. Ryan Zimmerman and Lastings Milledge had RBI doubles and Ronnie Belliard knocked in two with a double of his own.
The Nationals wrap up their six game homestand this afternoon, trying to salvage one win. It also brings their 20 games in 20 days to an end; they are 6-13 entering Sunday.
Odalis Perez battles Aaron Cook.
Pitching Match-Up
LHP Odalis Perez (5-8, 4.12) tossed his third consecutive quality start last Tuesday, but snapped a two-game winning streak with a no-decision against the Mets.
Perez gave up three hits, including a 2-run single to Carlos Delgado in the first inning. After a great 7-4-3 double play, started by Willie Harris' running catch, Perez gave up back-to-back doubles in the third to fall behind 3-2.
After the third, he gave up two hits in the next three innings, throwing 107 pitches, 70 for strikes. In all, Perez gave up eight hits and one walk in six solid innings.
Perez picked up the win in the Nationals 6-3 victory at Coors Field against the Rockies on August 7. In that game, he gave up two runs on six hits in six innings. The two runs came on Garrett Atkins 2-run homer in the first.
In his career vs. Colorado, Perez is 7-7 with a 3.82 ERA in 19 games, 18 starts. He is shooting for his second win at Nationals Park this season. In 11 starts at home, Perez is 1-4 with a very respectable 2.50 ERA.
RHP Aaron Cook (14-8, 3.86) is looking to regain his pre All-Star break form. Before the mid-summer classic, Cook was 11-6 with a 3.57 ERA in 20 starts. Since then, Cook is 3-2 with a 5.13 in five outings.
Cook was pulled from his scheduled start on Thursday, and moved to today, because he's been experiencing tightness and pain in his back since throwing three innings in the All-Star game. Colorado is hoping the extra rest will help.
Against Washington, in Colorado on August 4th, Cook suffered the loss in the Nationals 9-4 win. He gave up seven runs, only four earned, on 11 hits and two wild pitches in 5 2/3 innings.
Staked to a 3-0 after the first, Jesus Flores hit a solo homer off Cook in the second. The Nationals added four more in the third. The first six Nationals reached base and four of them scored, thanks to two Rockie errors, one by Cook.
Cook, looking to snap a two-game losing streak, leads the Majors with a seven wins in day games; he's 7-1 wit a 3.99 ERA.
