Bullpen questions return after Nats can't hold lead in Denver

DENVER - The Rockies turned up their offense in the late going, dropping the Nationals 8-4 after Jacob Turner had provided a quality start and Ryan Zimmerman had hit a 425-foot two-run homer.

The Nationals bounced back from an early 1-0 deficit to score four runs in the sixth inning, highlighted by Zimmerman's seventh homer in April, a 425-foot blast over the center field wall.

But Colorado had the final answer, tallying seven runs in their final three innings, pounding out seven straight runs for the victory, dispatching a road-weary Nationals team that hadn't been in Colorado for more than 15 hours.

The Rockies retaliated with two-run shots by Mark Reynolds and Charlie Blackmon, plus five consecutive singles in the eighth off of Blake Treinen. Manager Dusty Baker ended up shaking his head after his team failed to make the Turner quality start stand up.

"We talk about winning the seventh, eighth and ninth if necessary, but they won it tonight," Baker said. "They got some big hits. They got some real big hits. None probably larger than Reynolds. I think that was two outs when he hit the homer. Then Charlie Blackmon hit his homer. Those guys, we realize they're tough here. We just have to make a little bit better pitches. They weren't bad. You have to give them credit for hitting them, but we have to keep them in the ballpark."

Turner allowed the Reynolds homer. Enny Romero then came on in the seventh with his team still leading 4-3. With two outs, pinch-hitter Pat Valaika doubled. Then against Blackmon, Romero surrendered the two-run shot that gave the Rockies the lead for good. After going ahead in the count 0-1 with a 97 mph fastball, Romero offered the 87 mph slider. Blackmon slammed it 417 feet into the right field upper deck.

Romero had pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless ball with two strikeouts against the Mets on April 22.

"He hasn't gotten hit that much except tonight, that homer," Baker said. "He pitched outstanding in New York, and these are some pretty good hitters. He gave up a homer to a pretty good hitter in Charlie Blackmon. Sometimes, the hitters get paid just like our guys get paid. And every pitch isn't always a bad pitch."

Romero had improved his command recently with help of a teammate.

"I changed my delivery a little bit, and now I can throw every pitch for a strike," Romero said. "That's why I work with Oliver (Pérez) in the throwing program - something with my delivery. Now I feel I can throw more strikes."

Romero explained the at-bat with Blackmon and what he was trying to do.

"I threw a fastball first pitch, then I threw a curve in there, and then another fastball," Romero said. "The fastball ... is a good pitch for me, but he can hit that pitch."

In the eighth, Treinen came on and had trouble getting outs. The Rockies reeled off five straight singles. They ended up scoring three runs in the frame to put the game away. Baker noticed what Colorado was trying to do against Treinen.

"Left-handers are hitting him to left field. That's how they're going to try to hit him," Baker said. "They did flare a couple in there, but in this ballpark, you have to play so deep, you know you're going to get some flares, you're going to get some first-to-thirds."

Even with the rough loss, the Nationals still have to feel pretty good about a 6-1 start to this road trip. After all, it was a season-long, seven-game win streak that was finally halted.

Right fielder Adam Eaton, who contributed a run-scoring triple, talked about the quick turnaround from Sunday night's game in New York.

"It's definitely is part of it," Eaton said. "It's difficult, but we're all professionals here and we got to get ready for the game or somebody else will do it for us. That's how we look at it. A new day tomorrow, we'll get a good night's rest tonight and be ready."

Baker remarked on the seven-game win streak being halted.

"We'll go get some rest tonight, then come back strong tomorrow and start a new streak," he said.