Forgot To Save Runs; Rockies downed in series finale

After scoring 10 runs in game one of a doubleheader, the Rockies mustered just one in the finale of a three-game set in the Nation’s Capital.

Jon Gray threw 99 pitches, two of them fastballs that caught too much of the zone which resulted in three runs. Those three runs were enough for the Washington Nationals in their 3-1 win over the Rockies.

Gray went seven innings, allowing just four hits while striking out eight. He retired the first 12 Nationals hitters he faced, ending with a single from Anthony Rendon to lead off the fifth inning.

One batter after Rendon, Adam Lind blasted a fastball away from him over the left-field fence. After getting Matt Wieters to ground out, Gray served up a nearly identical home run to Brian Goodwin.

It was the second time in three ball games a Rockies pitcher had come into an inning with a perfect game and left it without the lead.

Edwin Jackson was terrific as the Rockies collected just two hits and one walk through the first four-and-two-thirds innings. But Gray worked the count to 3-2 and drew a two-out walk then beat out a throw at second in what went down as an infield hit for Blackmon. Gray scored on a single from Gerardo Parra through the right side but Parra got himself caught between bases and Blackmon was thrown out at home.

The Rockies only nabbed four hits in the ballgame as did the Nationals but just like the first game of this split doubleheader it came down to clutch hitting and in the nightcap, the Rockies didn’t have it.

Colorado made a huge move acquiring Jonathan Lucroy from the Rangers. The trade deadline is tomorrow at 2 p.m. MT while the club has the day off. A home series with the Mets starts on Tuesday.