Nationals limp home after 3-7 road trip

After scoring 15 runs in the opener, the Nationals managed to plate just two in the series finale as the Rockies prevented a sweep with a 3-2 win Thursday night. With the loss, the Nats wasted a prime opportunity to gain a half-game on the Mets, who were off tonight.

Despite claiming just their third series win of the second half, the Nationals' detrimental road trip ends with a 3-7 mark. Shut out three times out west, the Nats found themselves trailing 2-0 in the seventh when Michael A. Taylor pulverized a slider deep into the seats in left-center field for a game-tying two-run homer off Yohan Flande. The Ruthian clout traveled 493 feet, according to Statcast, the longest home run measured in the majors this year.

"I just think (Taylor) got one out over and up," Nationals manager Matt Williams said to reporters. "(Flande) didn't make many mistakes up tonight, but that one Mikey got a hold of it. He's got power, we know that."

But the Rockies answered in the bottom of the frame when Jose Reyes led off with a base knock, ending Max Scherzer's evening. Carlos Gonzalez then singled off left-hander Felipe Rivero, who couldn't do his job.

Williams quickly called for right-hander Blake Treinen, who struck out Nolan Arenado, but then surrendered a soft line drive from Ben Paulsen that fell in front of Taylor, allowing Reyes to score the go-head run.

"Once Reyes got the hit, then we're matched up with the lefty," Williams explained to reporters. "Felipe threw a good fastball away and (Gonzalez) just hit it down the line. Blake made a nice pitch, too, but (Paulsen) just got enough of it too to get it in there."

The Nationals had a chance in the ninth when Bryce Harper started the inning with a sharp ground single to center. After Rockies closer John Axford fanned Yunel Escobar and Ian Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman drew a two-out walk, bringing Taylor to the plate. This time, though, Taylor couldn't catch up to the 97 mph heater, striking out to end the game.

Scherzer made improvements from his previous few outings, but the right-hander still battled with command. He yielded three runs on eight hits with three walks and seven strikeouts, throwing 103 pitches over six-plus innings.

"I think he was more in control of what he was doing and where he wanted to throw it," Williams told reporters. "Good changeups and fastball was good."

The Nationals seemed to get lost during their 11-day journey out west. They head back to D.C. at 60-60, now trailing the first-place Mets by four games with 42 games remaining. Beginning with the Brewers' visit to Nationals Park on Friday night, Washington plays 16 of its next 19 games at home.

"We've got to play well," Williams told reporters. "For the most part, in the last three games, we have. So we'll take that home. We've got a number of games at home now with the exception of three in St. Louis. But a lot of home games in our own familiar ballpark, which bodes well for us. We gotta play well there."