DENVER (AP) — Jordan Beck took a called third strike from Kyle Finnegan to end the game with a runner on third, and the Washington Nationals held on to beat the Colorado Rockies 12-11 Saturday after nearly wasting a 10-run lead.
Dylan Crews homered twice, had three hits and four runs; James Wood had four RBIs, three hits and a home run; and Josh Bell homered as Washington built a 12-2 seventh-inning lead. All four home runs were off Chase Dollander.
Colorado has lost seven straight, dropping to a big league-worst 3-16. The Rockies closed with an eight-run seventh capped by Beck’s three-run triple off Jose A. Ferrer.
Finnegan walked Hunter Goodman starting the ninth and gave up a two-out RBI triple to Mickey Moniak, who had four RBIs. Beck took a 1-2 fastball on the low, outside corner, giving Finnegan his seventh save in seven chances.
Washington’s MacKenzie Gore (2-2) tied his career high with 13 strikeouts, allowing two runs and four hits in six innings.
Dollander (1-2) allowed nine runs — six earned— and nine hits in four innings,
Key moment
Crews made a diving head-first catch on Sean Bouchard for the first out of the eighth.
Key stat
The Nationals, whose 12 runs were a season high, averaged 2.8 runs per game during a 1-5 slide before arriving in Denver.
Up next
Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (1-0, 3.91 ERA) and Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-3, 4.88) open Sunday’s doubleheader. Washington RHP Brad Lord (0-1, 4.82) and Colorado RHP Antonio Senzatela (0-3, 5.89) are to start the second game.
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