Nats offense wakes up in 15-6 win

In the leadoff spot for the first time this year, Jayson Werth flew out to right to start the game. After striking out Danny Espinosa, Rockies starter David Hale walked Bryce Harper.

Yunel Escobar then tangled with Hale in an eight-pitch battle, finally making the right-hander pay with a two-run homer drilled to right-center field. It was Escobar's ninth home run of the season.

The Rockies answered quicky in the bottom of the frame. Jose Reyes legged out an infield single on a slow bouncer to Espinosa. Moments later, Carlos Gonzalez turned on a 94 mph fastball, launching it deep down the right field line for a two-run homer. Gonzalez has now blasted 15 taters since the All-Star break.

All-Star Nolan Arenado followed with a double ripped down the left field line. Arenado advanced to third on Ben Paulsen's groundout and then scored when Ian Desmond booted Nick Hundley's sharp grounder. The error was Desmond's 23rd of the season.

Jordan Zimmermann quickly recorded the first two outs in the second before leaving an 0-2 fastball over the plate to Reyes. Reyes spanked it over the right field wall for his fifth homer of the season.

Update: Espinosa roped a one-out double in the third. After Harper walked for the second time, Escobar delivered an RBI base knock up the middle. Harper raced from first to third on the play and then scored on Desmond's infield single to tie the game.

Update II: Werth slapped a two-out single to right in the fourth. Espinosa followed with another double hooked down the right field line, bringing Werth to the plate.

Update III: Desmond singled to right with one out in the fifth. He took second on Hale's wild pitch and then tagged and reached on Michael A. Taylor's deep fly ball to right.

Some aggressive baserunning allowed Desmond to cross the plate after Hale uncorked another wild pitch.

The Rockies answered in the bottom of the inning when DJ LeMaieu lined a single to right. Harper made a poor decision, throwing wildly to first. The Nationals' third error of the game allowed LeMaieu to take second base.

Arenado followed with a double to center, easily scoring LeMaieu to cut the Nats' lead to one.

Update IV: Kyle Parker smacked a hanging curveball over the left field wall for a solo homer to start the sixth.

Zimmermann surrendered six runs (four earned) on nine hits with one walk and six strikeouts over six innings.

Update V: Rockies right-hander Justin Miller walked Escobar and Ryan Zimmerman in the seventh. Taylor then came through with a two-out RBI single to give the Nats the lead.

Update VI: The Nats added four in the eighth on two hits, three walks, a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly and a groundout.

Update VII: Escobar picked up his fourth RBI of the night on a single in the ninth. Desmond equaled Escobar's total on a double plating Espinosa and Harper. And Escobar scored on Zimmerman's sacrifice fly to give the Nats 15 runs on the night.

The Nationals beat the Rockies 15-6.