Game 83: Rockies at Nats

File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Chase Hughes here for the final game of the Nationals vs. Rockies series and the final game before the All-Star Break. Mark will pick things up tomorrow for what should be an exciting week for Nationals fans.

Jordan Zimmermann will pitch for the Nationals in his 17th start of the season. He has a 2.70 ERA which leads Nationals starting pitchers and ranks 7th in the National League. He hasn't allowed more than three earned runs in a game since May and has allowed two or fewer in four consecutive outings.

Jeremy Guthrie takes the mound for Colorado, he is 3-8 on the season with a 6.28 ERA. He allowed three runs in four innings to the Nationals back on June 27. Washington goes for the series win and a chance to hit the 50 mark at the break. Stay tuned for updates throughout the day and feel free to add your comments below.


COLORADO ROCKIES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, WDCW 50, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 185
Weather: Mostly clear, 97 degrees, Wind 5 mph LF to RF

NATIONALS (49-33)

LF Steve Lombardozzi
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman
RF Michael Morse
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
C Jhonatan Solano
RHP Jordan Zimmermann

ROCKIES (32-52)

CF Dexter Fowler
2B Marco Scutaro
LF Carlos Gonzalez
RF Tyler Colvin
1B Todd Helton
3B Jordan Pacheco
SS Jonathan Herrera
C Wil Nieves
RHP Jeremy Guthrie

UMPIRES
HP Jim Reynolds
1B James Hoye
2B Jim Joyce
3B Mike DiMuro

1:22 p.m. -- Getting set for the game at Nationals Park, Bryce Harper was given his #34 N.L. All-Star game jersey before the first pitch by general manager Mike Rizzo. Big applause from those who have arrived early.

1:41 p.m. -- One, two, three for Zimmermann in the first inning. Only needed 11 pitches (9 strikes) to set down the order. Maybe he wants to get this break started sooner than later.

1:49 p.m. -- Ryan Zimmerman hit a nice double with two outs in the first inning, but Michael Morse flied out to deep right field in the next at-bat. We're scoreless heading into the second.

2:02 p.m. -- The Rockies loaded the bases with a Colvin single, Helton walk, and Pacheco single in the second inning. Colvin came home on a sacrifice fly by former National Wil Nieves. 1-0 Rockies over Nats as we go to the bottom of the second. 32 pitches for Jordan Zimmermann through two, 22 of those strikes.

2:12 p.m. -- Adam LaRoche led off the bottom of the second with a hard hit single down the first base line, but the Nats couldn't punch him home. Desmond got on base with a fielder's choice and stole his tenth base of the year. He is still playing with the oblique strain and playing well.

2:21 p.m. -- Things got interesting in the third inning for Jordan Zimmermann. He walked Dexter Fowler to lead off and the Rockies' center fielder advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Zimmermann tried to pick him off at second, but threw the ball about five feet over Espinosa's head. Fowler got to third, but was left there as Zimmermann struck out Carlos Gonzalez and got Tyler Colvin to fly out to left to end the inning.

2:32 p.m. -- The Nationals got two men on in the bottom of the third, but couldn't cash in. Harper hit a hard grounder into right field to get on with two outs. He stole second and third for his 9th and 10th of the year and Zimmerman walked, but Morse grounded to short to end the frame. On to the fourth, still 1-0 Rockies.

2:39 p.m. -- Zimmermann sets the Rockies down in order to start the fourth inning with three straight fly balls. Morse almost misplayed the third but recovered and caught the ball over his shoulder. Zimmermann needed 13 pitches to escape and is now at 58 (43 strikes) after four.

2:46 p.m. -- Adam LaRoche led off with a double off the left-center field wall to start the inning. Desmond came up next and took a 3-2 pitch deep over the left field fence for his 17th home run of the year. Desi does it again, 2-1 Nats.

3:08 p.m. -- Three up, three down for Zimmermann in the top of the 6th as he is now cruising. He has allowed three hits, one walk, and one earned run through six. 80 pitches so far with 57 strikes. Nats still up 2-1 with Morse, LaRoche, and Desmond due up.

3:14 p.m. -- Nats left a man on base in the sixth after Morse led off with a single to right field. LaRoche popped out for the first out and then Desmond grounded into a double play. 2-1 Nats as we go to the 7th.

3:50 p.m. -- Steve Lombardozzi got Roger Bernadina home in the bottom of the seventh after Bernadina singled and stole second. Sean Burnett replaced Zimmermann and allowed a home run to Eric Young who pinch-hit for pitcher Eric Belisle. The Rockies scored another run off a wild pitch by Michael Gonzalez to tie the game at 3-3 as we go to the bottom of the eighth.

4:01 p.m. -- After two flyouts to start the bottom of the eighth, Michael Morse reached base on a high bouncing single over the pitcher's head and past a running Pacheco at third. He was stranded, however, after a deep flyout to left field by Adam LaRoche. 3-3 here at Nats Park as Tyler Clippard takes the mound to start the ninth.

4:08 p.m. -- Now 4-3 Rockies as Jordan Pacheco doubles and is then advanced to third on a Herrera bunt. A wild pitch by Clippard brought him home for the go-ahead run.

4:30 p.m. -- The Nationals got two on in the ninth after a Desmond single and Bernadina walk, but win number 50 was not meant to be today. 4-3 Rockies, on to the All-Star break.