Turner's cycle tops hit parade (Nats survive 15-12)

DENVER - The Nationals jumped on recently called-up right-hander German Márquez early to take the lead. This is his fourth major league start.

In the first, Trea Turner singled to right field with one out. Bryce Harper then doubled down the right field line. Turner scored from first because Carlos González bobbled the ball in right field. There was no RBI in the play and González was given an error.

After a Ryan Zimmerman strikeout, Daniel Murphy singled past a diving Trevor Story into right field, which scored Harper.

The Nationals led 1-0 heading to the bottom of the first.

Right-hander Joe Ross absorbed a pair of close-to-the-warning-track fly balls that were caught by Harper and Adam Eaton. Charlie Blackmon and DJ LeMahieu almost got the Rockies going, but their at-bats were just loud outs. Ross retired Nolan Arenado on a grounder to end the inning.

The Nationals went after Márquez again in the second. A two-out walk to Ross opened the door. Eaton walked. Turner then delivered a two-run single to left field. After a pair of walks, Murphy drilled a triple to deep center field that bounced up against the wall. Three runs scored and the Nats lead 7-0.

Heading to the bottom of the second in Denver: the Nationals 7, the Rockies 0.

Update: González led off the second with a solo homer, which went an estimated distance of 436 feet. The good news is that it indeed was just a solo homer. Ross then retired the side with a pair of strikeouts looking. The Nationals got another single in their half of the third, this one from Matt Wieters. But were unable to mount a further rally.

Heading to the bottom of the third, the Nationals lead the Rockies, 7-1.

Update II: The Rockies added a run in the third. After a leadoff walk to Tony Wolters and a sacrifice that got him to second base, Blackmon singled. Wolters scored to cut the Nats' lead to 7-2.

In the top of the fourth, Zimmerman doubled with two outs. Murphy singled to score Zimmerman. Murphy has three hits and a career-high-tying five RBIs. The Nats lead the Rockies 8-2 heading to the bottom of the fourth.

Update III: Mark Reynolds has hit another homer in the series. This solo shot led off the fourth.

German Márquez lasted four innings, giving up eight runs on nine hits with three walks and striking out two. He tossed 85 pitches, 51 for strikes.

Murphy has had five RBIs in a game six times in his career. He has done it twice this season, last time was April 11.

Mid-fifth in Denver: the Nationals lead the Rockies 8-3.

Update IV: The Rockies finally chased Ross in the fifth. Back-to-back RBI doubles for LeMahieu and Nolan Arenado and the Nats lead was trimmed to 8-5. With two men on, Enny Romero came on to get Gerardo Parra to ground out to short to end the threat.

Ross finished 4 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits, allowing five runs and two walks and striking out two. He tossed 90 pitches, 57 for strikes. His velocity was not where it usually is, so that likely will be asked about in post game.

After five innings, Nats lead 8-5.

Update V: In the top of the sixth versus Jordan Lyles, Eaton singled. Turner followed with a two-run shot over the right field fence for his first homer of the season, and first since Oct. 1, 2016. Turner has set a new career-high with four RBIs.

Mid-sixth, the Nats lead the Rockies, 10-5.

Update VI: Turner's three-run triple in the seventh highlighted another five-run Nats uprising. Turner has now hit for the cycle, the third time it's happened in Nats history, Cristian Guzman did it on August 8, 2008. Brad Wilkerson accomplished the feat on April 6, 2005.

Turner also has a new career-high in RBIs with seven.

Nats lead the Rockies 15-5 mid-seventh.

Update VII: The Rockies scored two in the seventh and four in the eighth. Joe Blanton struggled in allowing four runs on four hits without recording an out. Matt Albers hit a batter but was able to record three outs.

After eight, the Nats hanging on to an 15-11 lead.

Update VIII: Shawn Kelley came in to pitch the ninth. Parra led off with a solo homer. Kelley managed to record three outs to finish the game.

Final: Nats 15, Rockies 12.