DENVER | Ryan Zimmerman hit two homers and drove in a career-high six runs, helping the Washington Nationals to a 14-6 win over the Colorado Rockies in a game called after eight innings Thursday night due to a steady rain.
Washington broke open a one-run game in the eighth by scoring seven times, the big blow a three-run double from pinch hitter Cristian Guzman.
As soon as Nationals reliever Brian Bruney completed a perfect eighth, the umpires called for the tarp.
After a 40-minute delay, the game was finally called, giving the surging Nationals their fifth win in six games.
Zimmerman had quite the night despite the drizzle, hitting a towering two-run homer to left in the first inning and a three-run shot to left-center in the fifth. It was his sixth career multi-homer game.
Both homers came on sliders from Jhoulys Chacin (2-1), who entered the contest with a streak of 15 1-3 scoreless innings.
Zimmerman quickly halted that three batters in.
The game was initially delayed 37 minutes as a storm was predicted to pass through the area. Only when the tarps were taken off, though, did the rain really start to pick up intensity.
With temperatures hovering around 47 degrees, steady drops began to fall at game time, turning heavier throughout the middle innings.
The grounds crew kept rolling out a wheelbarrow and dumping diamond dust by the shovel full on the pitcher’s mound, in the batter’s box and along the base paths to help with traction.
It did the trick — to a certain extent. Players still eased their way around the bases, careful not to lose their footing.
Not that Miguel Olivo needed to worry about slipping after hitting a homer to left, a two-run shot in the seventh, that made it 7-6.
Olivo slowly made his way around the bases, avoiding the slick spots and water hazards. He hit a game-winning homer in the 10th to beat Philadelphia the day before.
But Washington ended any thoughts of a Colorado comeback with an eighth-inning eruption. The seven runs in the frame ties a Nationals record, set numerous times, the last on July 27 at Milwaukee.
Washington had seven hits in the inning, including a two-run double by Josh Willingham. Zimmerman and Ian Desmond also had RBI singles.
Doug Slaten (1-0) got two outs in the seventh to earn the win.
Troy Tulowitzki was back in the lineup after sitting out the last two games because of a strained right quadriceps muscle.
The slick-fielding shortstop finished 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Chacin had a rocky outing, giving up six runs and six hits in five innings. He came into the game with a 0.00 ERA and left with it rising to 2.66.
NOTES: Rockies MGR Jim Tracy said INF Melvin Mora was still a “little bit sore” after straining a gluteal muscle Wednesday. Mora was called on to pinch hit in the seventh and flew out. … Washington RHP Jason Marquis is scheduled to have surgery Friday to remove bone chips from his right elbow. … Rockies LHP Jorge De La Rosa (torn tendon band in left middle finger) will play catch Friday. He said it will be the first time he’s thrown since coming out of a start on April 25. … RHP Huston Street (shoulder inflammation) pitched a scoreless inning at Double-A Tulsa in his first rehab appearance. … Nationals LHP John Lannan gave up four runs in 4 2-3 innings. He skipped his scheduled start on May 8 due to a sore elbow.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.