The Washington Nationals evened their four-game series against the Rockies on Tuesday night with a record-setting offensive explosion at Coors Field. Washington crushed Colorado 12-5 in the series' second game that took a little more than three hours. The Nats set a new franchise record with 11 extra base hits and matched a franchise record with 21 total hits. Washington also set a season-high for runs and homers, handing Gio Gonzalez a big cushion en route to his 10th win of the season.
After some early fireworks, the Nationals blew it open with a five-run fifth inning that pushed the lead to 9-3. Not to be outdone by Stephen Strasburg at the plate, Gonzalez started the rally by singling home Jesus Flores. Ian Desmond continued the offensive assault by doubling home Ryan Zimmerman and Michael Morse. Tyler Moore then put an emphatic bow on the inning, with an absolute bomb of a home run into the left-field bleachers. It was a three-run shot that went deep into the Denver night and landed 20 to 25 rows up in the bleachers.
There were plenty of highlights to choose from in addition to Moore's blast. Zimmerman notched his 1,000 career hit and then later added his fourth homer of the season in the sixth. Adam LaRoche bookended the the 12 Washington runs with two homers of his own -- a solo shot in the second and a two-run rip in the sixth. Desmond was four for five with three of the team's 11 doubles in another impressive performance. And Michael Morse matched Desmond with a four-hit night as well. It was a total team break-out for Davey Johnson's ballclub.
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