Joe, Rockies take advantage of Nats' miscues in 5-2 win

Published May. 4, 2022 11:33 p.m. ET

Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — Jose Iglesias had a two-run double and Connor Joe a two-run triple in consecutive at-bats in the fourth inning after a crucial error by shortstop Alcides Escobar, and the Colorado Rockies rallied to beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Wednesday night.

Charlie Blackmon added an RBI groundout in the five-run inning, while Austin Gomber (2-2) pitched 6 2/3 strong innings in the Rockies' fourth win in five games.

Lane Thomas hit his first homer and Cesar Hernandez went 2 for 4 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 10 games for the Nationals, who committed three errors. Escobar also struck out three times and Washington hit into four double plays as its two-game winning streak was stopped.

With the Nationals up 1-0, Escobar booted a grounder that could have been an inning-ending double play for his second error of the game to load the bases. Iglesias followed

Corbin went all eight innings, giving up five runs — three earned — and nine hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Gomber allowed two runs and seven hits with six strikeouts in his third straight strong outing. Daniel Bard pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save in a game that took just 2 hours, 18 minutes after being delayed 25 minutes before the start by rain.

Yadiel Hernandez, the 34-year-old Cuban in his third season in the majors, had two more hits for Washington while batting cleanup in place of the injured Nelson Cruz. Hernandez is batting .377.

ROSTER MOVE

The Nationals claimed RHP Cory Abbott off waivers from San Francisco and optioned him to Triple-A Rochester. LHP Sean Doolittle (elbow) was moved to the 60-day IL to open a spot on the 40-man roster.

“With spring training shortened, you can never have enough pitchers,” manager Dave Martinez said. “He's kind of a depth piece for us.”

TRAINER'S ROOM

Nationals: Martinez said Abbott had a plasma injection in his left elbow last week and won't be able to throw for at least another five weeks. ... Martinez said DH Cruz (back) was “still a little stiff” and kept out of the lineup, a day after he was lifted for a pinch hitter. Cruz was available to pinch hit and could return Thursday. ... RHPs Stephen Strasburg (neck) and Joe Ross (elbow) threw live batting practice in Florida. ... Gary DiSarcina continued to coach third base after taking a foul ball off the back of his head while standing in the dugout in the fourth.

Rockies: OF Kris Bryant (back) is still only throwing and not hitting, manager Bud Black said, making it unlikely he'll be ready to play when he's eligible to come off the injured list Friday.

UP NEXT

The three-game series concludes Thursday with Nationals RHP Aaron Sanchez (1-1, 6.75 ERA) facing RHP Antonio Senzatela (2-1, 3.36).

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