Ian Desmond was 1-for-14 in the series and 0-for-3 in the game when he strode to the plate against his former club in the ninth. He’s struggled to put up consistent offensive result since joining the Colorado Rockies but with a chance to play hero on a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon in the nation’s capital, he came through with a mammoth go-ahead solo home run over the wall in center.

In a back-and-forth affair that included many key mistakes and a lack of sharpness on the pitching side, the Rockies snuck out a 6-5 win, and a 3-1 series win, over the Washington Nationals.

While Stephen Strasburg dominated early, Tyler Anderson flirted with—but avoided—disaster through the first four innings. He did surrender a first-inning solo blast to Bryce Harper on a cutter that was fairly well located but demolished by the phenom nonetheless.

Charlie Blackmon broke up the no-hitter and the shutout, the second time this series a Rockie has done that, with a solo home run off Strasburg in the fourth.

But it was Anderson’s wildness, perhaps aiming to be too fine, that would lead to Anderson’s downfall. He issued six, count ’em six, free passes. He managed to use an almost matching six strikeouts and an especially well-timed double play to keep the Rockies in the contest but a trio of walks handcuffed Antonio Senztela into a tough situation in the fifth.

With the bases loaded but two outs, Senza missed up and in with the fastball and catcher Chris Iannetta whiffed on it, allowing one run to score, and then overthrew to home, allowing a second.

Colorado would get those right back, though, and take a short-lived lead.

An infield hit from pinch-hitting Mike Tauchman and a walk by DJ LeMahieu set the stage for Blackmon to once again tie the game, which is exactly what he did. Despite breaking his bat, Blackmon was able to pull a double just past the diving first baseman to score both runner and knot it up at three runs apiece.

Carlos Gonzalez followed up with a hard opposite field single to beat the shift, scoring Blackmon and giving the Rockies a 4-3 lead.

That lead lasted exactly two batters when Matt Wieters struck again, hammering his second home run of the season and series to tie the game again.

Bryan Shaw wasn’t done with his troubles either as Michael Taylor doubled and both Matt Adams and Trea Turner walked to load the bases for the second straight inning. Bud Black went to Jake McGee who escaped another jam by getting Wilmer Difo to ground out to short.

DJ LeMahieu’s early-season-power-surge continued and gave the Rockies the lead back in the eighth. He hit a screaming line drive over the right-center field fence for his fifth home run of the season.

LeMahieu didn’t reach five homers last season until August 26.

Blackmon and LeMahieu have combined for 11 home runs this season. All out on the road.

But another passed ball would cost the Rockies another run in the bottom half after Michael Turner doubled and stole third base against Adam Ottavino. It was the first run Ottavino has allowed this season.

Wade Davis walked a batter but otherwise worked a clean bottom of the ninth to earn his seventh save of the season.

Rockies pitching walked 10 batters and uncorked a pair of wild pitches that led to three runs. A throwing error cost another. On a sloppy, rainy day, the Rockies needed their offense, sans Nolan Arenado, to win them the game and the series.

And they did.

Final Stats:

Tyler Anderson: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER (4.74), 6 BB, 6 K

Antonio Senzatela: 0.1 IP

Bryan Shaw: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER (3.86) HR

Adam Ottavino: 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Charlie Blackmon: 2-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR (6)

DJ LeMahieu: 1-for-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, HR (5)

Carlos Gonzalez: 1-for-4, RBI

What’s Next:

The Rockies are off to Pittsburg to face off with the Pirates in a three-game set. German Marquez will take the ball in Game 1 against Steven Brault. First pitch at 5:05 Mountain Time.