Colorado Rockies Explode in 11th Inning in Win Over Nationals

Just when you think you might be able to figure out what’s going to happen in the game of baseball, a game like Saturday afternoon’s contest comes along for the Colorado Rockies.

The good news of the day? Colorado jumped to a 3-0 lead against the National League East-leading Washington Nationals.

The bad news? The Nationals touched Adam Ottavino for the first run of the season he has given up to tie the game at 4-4 in the ninth inning.

The better news? Colorado exploded for five runs in the top of the 11th inning to snap a four-game losing streak with a 9-4 victory over Washington.

How weird of a game was Saturday’s contest? Gerardo Parra, who had just four walks all season coming into the game, including one intentional, walked twice. Of course, he did strike out amidst all of the fireworks for the Rockies in the 11th inning, so there are some things that simply don’t change.

Yes, Ottavino’s scoreless streak came to an end on an RBI single by Jayson Werth that plated Ben Revere and knotted the game at 4-4 in the ninth. It forced the game to go into extra innings, but that’s where the fun began for the Rockies.

After a quiet 10th for the Rockies, Bryce Harper got himself tossed for arguing a called third strike from Jake McGee. McGee earned the win with a hitless frame with two strikeouts. For the Nationals, Harper’s ejection was a sign of bad things to come.

In the 11th with Yusmeiro Petit on the mound, Colorado began a hit parade that sent the Nationals fans streaming for the gates.

Cristhian Adames opened the pivotal frame with a single and scored when Charlie Blackmon belted his second home of the game (and 23rd of the season) to give the Rockies a 6-4 lead.

Rather than take the lead and let their foot off the gas, the Colorado offense accelerated.

More from Rox Pile

• A Colorado Rockies Thanksgiving
• Colorado Rockies: What if Todd Helton had played football instead?
• Colorado Rockies: Charlie Blackmon out for the season
• Colorado Rockies: Injuries shift look of roster ahead of Dodgers series
• Colorado Rockies: Has Sean Bouchard earned a second look in 2023?

DJ LeMahieu singled to right before Carlos Gonzalez blasted a 2-2 pitch over the center field wall to extend the Colorado lead to 8-4. It was CarGo’s 200th Major League homer.

Nolan Arenado stepped to the plate and singled. Next, David Dahl ripped a double for Colorado’s sixth consecutive hit of the frame against Petit.

Parra recorded the first out of the inning with a strikeout before Nick Hundley slapped an RBI single to plate Arenado and give the Rockies their ninth run of the day and fifth of the frame.

Outside of Ottavino’s one hit and one run surrendered, Colorado’s bullpen stepped up when needed. Reversing a recent trend, the Rockies bullpen gave up no other runs and just four hits. Matt Carasiti gave up two of those hits pitching the 11th inning but also struck out the side to finish off the game.

Next: Counting Down the Top 5 First Basemen in Colorado History

Colorado and Washington will play the series-deciding game on Sunday afternoon. Chad Bettis (10-7, 5.29 ERA) takes the mound looking to help the Rockies finish the road trip on a high note.