Flande Keys Rockies' 3-2 Win Over Nationals
DENVER (AP) — Yohan Flande pitched seven strong innings and singled twice, driving in a run and scoring a run to lead the Colorado Rockies to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.
Outpitching Washington's Max Scherzer, Flande (3-1) allowed two runs and three hits to help the Rockies avoid a series sweep.
Ben Paulsen singled in the seventh to drive in the tiebreaking run and Jose Reyes added three hits, including an RBI double for the Rockies.
Washington's Michael A. Taylor connected for his 11th homer, a two-run drive in the seventh.
Scherzer (11-10) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings and fell to 0-3 in four career starts at Coors Field.
John Axford struck out the side in the ninth around a leadoff single by Bryce Harper and a walk to Ryan Zimmerman for his 17th save.
Flande took a two-hitter into the seventh inning with a 2-0 lead before walking Zimmerman with two outs. Taylor followed by driving Flande's first pitch into the seats beyond the wall in straightaway center to tie the score.
However, the Rockies regained the lead in their half of the seventh. Reyes singled to lead off the inning, chasing Scherzer. Carlos Gonzalez greeted reliever Felipe Rivero with a single. After reliever Blake Treinen struck out Nolan Arenado, Paulsen singled to center, driving in Reyes with the tiebreaking run.
Catcher Dustin Garneau made his major league debut for the Rockies and doubled in the second inning in his first career at bat.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: CF Denard Span (back tightness) and 2B Dan Uggla (back spasms) are scheduled to continue their rehab assignments Friday at Double-A Harrisburg. They were set to play Thursday with Class-A Hagerstown but the game was rained out. ... RHP David Carpenter (right shoulder inflammation) was scheduled to resume his rehab assignment Friday with 20-25 pitches at high Class-A Potomac where he threw 15 pitches in one inning Wednesday in his first rehab outing.
Rockies: RHP Kyle Kendrick, on the disabled list since Aug. 1 with a right shoulder inflammation, is getting close to being sent out for a minor league rehab assignment and, if all goes well, could rejoin the Rockies in September. ... RHP Chad Bettis (right shoulder inflammation) allowed three hits in five innings and struck out seven, earning the win in a rehab assignment Thursday for Triple-A Albuquerque in Nashville.
MAKING A MOVE
After designating OF Drew Stubbs for assignment earlier this month, the Rockies released him Thursday.
UP NEXT
Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (9-5) is slated to pitch Friday's series opener against Milwaukee at Nationals Park, where he is 5-1 with 2.60 ERA this season.
Rockies: RHP Jon Gray (0-0) will be looking for his first big league win when he makes his fourth career start Friday in a series opener at Coors Field against the New York Mets.
By Dennis Georgatos, AP Sports Writer
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