Rockies get to Zimmermann for early lead (LaRoche homers, Nats lead 7-4)

Nationals right-hander Jordan Zimmermann battled through the first inning against the Rockies, and despite allowing two hits, was able to come through it unscathed. Unfortunately, the Rockies were able to get a couple of more hits in the second inning to take their first lead of the series. Ben Paulsen doubled, and one batter later, DJ LeMahieu smacked a triple down the right field line to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead. Ian Desmond has a base hit for the Nationals, but Bryce Harper was thrown out at third base trying to stretch from first base to end the top of the second inning. Manager Matt Williams requested a video replay review. The MASN replays showed two versions in which it appeared Harper beat the tag. However, umpires confirmed the call on the field, and Harper was out. The Nationals have lost their challenge for the remainder of the game. The Rockies lead 1-0 after two innings. Update: Josh Rutledge hit a triple to lead off the third. Two batters later, Nolan Arenado cranked his seventh homer, a two-run shot, to extend the Rockies' lead to 3-0. It was the first home run Zimmermann had allowed against the Rockies in eighth career starts, a span of 46 2/3 innings. Update II: The Nationals got on the board in fifth against Yohan Flande. Harper walked for the second time and Desmond doubled to put men on second and third. A Wilson Ramos groundout and a Zimmermann flyout made it 3-2 Colorado. The Rockies got one of those back in the bottom of the inning on a Corey Dickerson solo shot to right field, his 12th homer of the season. The Rockies lead 4-2 after five innings. Update III: The Nationals tied the game in the sixth thanks to four hits. Ryan Zimmerman's fielder's choice scored Rendon. However, Zimmerman appeared to hurt his right hamstring on the play, and Danny Espinosa replaced him as a pinch-runner. Espinosa scored on Ramos' RBI single, and the game was all even at 4-4. Zimmermann finished five innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, with no walks and six strikeouts. He threw 76 pitches, 53 for strikes. He surrendered his first two home runs ever in nine games against the Rockies. Update IV: Adam LaRoche crushed a three-run shot in the seventh, his 13th homer of the season, to give the Nationals their first lead of the game, 7-4. Rendon has three hits, and Harper has two hits and two walks. He has reached base four times. The Nationals have scored at least seven runs in four of their five meetings against the Rockies this season. With 10 hits in the game, the Nationals have had at least 10 hits in six consecutive games for the first time since 2007. The team record was eight straight games of at least 10 hits in 2005. Update V: Put another series win in the books. The Nationals bullpen shut down the Rockies, and the Nats went on to beat the Rockies 7-4. Drew Storen, Tyler Clippard and Rafael Soriano pitched a combined three scoreless innings, holding the Rockies to just three hits. Soriano picked up his 23rd save, and the Nationals have their 55th win of the season. Stephen Strasburg will look to lead the Nats to a sweep in tomorrow's matinee at Coors Field. Update VI: As reported by Dan Kolko, Zimmerman has a right hamstring strain. He'll have an MRI tomorrow.