Rockies score twice on Drew Storen, Nats lose 6-4

Carlos Gonzalez ruined the Nationals' night on Friday with his eighth inning grand slam off Drew Storen. In the first inning today, Gonzalez belted a hanging curveball from Max Scherzer deep to right for a two-out solo homer to give the Rockies an early lead.

Rockies All-Star Nolan Arenado followed with a base knock to center before Scherzer whiffed Ben Paulsen with a 95 mph heater to end the frame.

Rockies left-hander Yohan Flande retired the Nats in order in the bottom of the inning.

Scherzer breezed through the second adding two more strikeouts.

Update: Ryan Zimmerman led off the second with a bomb to dead center. It was Zimmerman's eighth homer of the year and seventh straight game with an RBI.

Jayson Werth then smacked Flande's first-pitch fastball over the wall in right-center field giving the Nats back-to-back homers for the first time this season. It was Werth's third homer of the year and first since May 13.

Update II: Flander and Charlie Blackmon opened the third with consecutive bunt singles, and then Jose Reyes sacrificed both into scoring position with the dangerous Gonzalez and Arenado coming to the plate.

But Scherzer went right after the two sluggers, pumping 98 mph fastball past them for strikeouts to end the frame.

With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Zimmerman crushed a sinker way up into the stands in center for a solo homer.

The Rockies answered in the fourth on Daniel Descalso's two-out solo blast to center.

Update III: Gonzalez drilled another solo homer homer off Scherzer to start the sixth. It was his 14th homer in his last 23 games.

One batter later, Paulsen roped a double over Michael A. Taylor's head in center. Paulsen then scored on Kyle Parker's two-out RBI single to left to give the Rockies the lead.

Update IV: Werth drew a key leadoff walk in the bottom of the frame. Ramos then crushed a ball off the wall in right-center, just missing a homer. The long drive gave the Nationals runners at the corners for Taylor with one out.

Taylor hit a sharp grounder to third and Werth broke for the plate, but Arenado's throw home hit Werth, allowing him to score safely to tie the game.

Scherzer left after the sixth, surrendering four runs on eight hits (three homers) with one walk and 10 strikeouts. Scherzer threw 84 pitches.

Blackmon opened the seventh with a deep drive to center off left-hander Felipe Rivero, but Taylor made another sensational leaping catch at the top of the wall.

Update V: Paulsen started the eighth with a base hit to right off right-hander Drew Storen. After Michael McHenry was hit by a pitch on a bunt attempt, Daniel Descalso moved both runners into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt.

Storen then made a stunning athletic jump to stab Parker's ground ball up the middle. Storen chased down Paulsen, who got caught in a rundown between third and home before being tagged for the second out.

But DJ LeMahieu's bouncing ball found the hole into left field, scoring McKenry and Parker.

Update VI: The Nationals loaded the bases in the ninth, but came away empty.

The Rockies beat the Nationals 6-4.