The time changes, the high altitude, Coors Field and the Colorado Rockies have never been too kind to the Washington Nationals. That trend continued Saturday night as the Rockies completely blew away the Nats 15-7.
Starter Livan Hernandez held off the Rockies for two innings giving up no runs, but he completely unraveled in the third inning where he gave up four runs and then a couple more in the fourth before manager Davey Johnson had seen enough. It is beginning more and more to look like it is time to put the Cuban workhorse out to pasture. He went 3.2 innings giving up nine runs (seven earned) on nine hits. He recorded no walks and no strikeouts and watched his ERA balloon to 4.41. Tom Gorzelanny, Todd Coffey, and Henry Rodriguez all pitched in relief with poor results, all of them giving up at least one run. Sean Burnett and his 0.1 innings of pitching was the only one not to give up a run.
The only could thing that could probably said for Washington was the offense at least showed up to play. The Nats scored seven runs on 14 hits. Seven of the nine Nationals starters recorded a hit with first baseman Michael Morse going 4-for-5 with three RBI. Ryan Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 15-games and went 2-for-3 with one RBI and two walks. Shortstop Ian Desmond had a rough night going 0-for-5 with a strikeout.
The Nationals will need to grind out a win in the final game of a four game series in Colorado in order for them to leave with a series split on Sunday.
The Nationals are now 54-59.