Slam lifts Rockies past Nationals, 5-4

An eighth-inning Carlos Gonzalez grand slam lifted the Colorado Rockies to a 5-4 win over the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park Friday night.

Gonzalez went deep on Nats reliever Drew Storen (3-2, 2.34 ERA) with two outs in the inning. It was the third blown save of the season for Storen, who had been Washington’s closer until the trade for Jonathan Papelbon last week.

Jordan Zimmerman got a no-decision for a strong effort for the Nationals, giving up a run on four hits in six and two-thirds innings, striking out six without issuing a walk.

The loss drops Washington (56-52) two and a half games back of the New York Mets in the National League East. The Mets (59-50) won their seventh in a row Friday night, defeating Tampa Bay, 4-3, with a two-run rally in the ninth.