Rockies tally first (Nats relinquish 4-1 lead, fall 8-4)

DENVER - The Nationals were unable to get much going the first time through the lineup against Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson.

Anderson struck out four of the first seven batters he faced.

But with one away in the third, catcher Jose Lobaton blooped a single to right field. Jacob Turner laid down a sacrifice bunt to get Lobaton in scoring position. With two outs, Trea Turner struck out on a changeup to end the threat.

Right-hander Jacob Turner allowed three hits in the second, and the Rockies were able to go ahead. With two men on, Tony Wolters hit a 3-2 Turner offering to left field on the ground for a single. The base knock scored Carlos Gonzalez, and the Rockies lead 1-0.

After two and a half innings in Denver, the Rockies lead the Nationals, 1-0.

Update: The Nats got a base hit from Anthony Rendon in the fourth, but were unable to plate a run. In the fifth, Jayson Werth walked with one out. Michael A. Taylor reached on a fielder's choice, but Werth was out at second. Lobaton grounded out to third to end the chance.

Jacob Turner has done a nice job of keeping the Nats close. Wolters got a another single in the fifth. But Anderson struck out on a bunt attempt and Ryan Zimmerman caught a vicious line drive off the bat of Charlie Blackmon to end the inning.

After five innings, the Rockies lead the Nationals, 1-0.

Update II: The Nats exploded for four runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run shot from Zimerman that chased starter Anderson. Adam Eaton had an RBI triple and Rendon a run-scoring single. Zimmerman now has four homers and 12 RBIs on this road trip. He has seven homers on the season.

Middle of the sixth, the Nationals lead the Rockies, 4-1.

Update III: The Rockies punched back in their half of the sixth. Nolan Arenado tripled with one out. Mark Reynolds launched a homer over the left field wall, his sixth of the season, to cut the Nats lead to 4-3. Jacob Turner got out of the inning on a long lineout by Gerardo Parra caught by Werth.

Turner went six innings, allowed three runs on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts. He tossed 84 pitches, 59 for strikes. A quality start from Turner was huge tonight for the Nats with Stephen Strasburg unavailable due to paternity leave.

After six innings, the Nats lead the Rockies, 4-3.

Update IV: The Nats were unable to hold the lead for long. With two outs in seventh against Enny Romero, pinch-hitter Pat Valaika doubled. Charlie Blackmon crushed a two-run shot on an 87-mph slider into the upper deck in right field and the Rockies lead 5-4 after seven innings.

Update V: The bullpen had a nice run in Atlanta and New York. That good feeling didn't continue in Denver Monday night. In the eighth, the Rockies collected five straight singles off of Blake Treinen, highlighting a three-run rally to add to to their lead, 8-4. Colorado collected 10 hits and scored seven runs in the late innings to come back from a 4-1 deficit. The Nationals bullpen allowed five late runs.

Werth doubled with one out in the ninth against Greg Holland. Taylor walked. Lobaton flew out to center. Pinch-hitter Bryce Harper swung at the first pitch and grounded out to first base to end the game.

Rockies defeat the Nationals, 8-4, to end the Nats' seven-game win streak.