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Milledge powers Nats over Rockies

Thu 7th, August 2008

Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Lastings Milledge hit two homers and drove in a career-high four runs to give the Washington Nationals a 6-3 victory over Colorado in the first of two games Thursday at Coors Field.

Milledge had his second career two-homer game and finished the game 3-for-4. Emilio Bonifacio, Ryan Zimmerman and Ronnie Belliard each added two hits for Washington, which has won five of six.

Jason Bergmann (2-8) earned his first win since May 15, spanning 14 appearances, and it marks the first time this season that the team has won two consecutive games in which he has appeared. The righty allowed one run on seven hits in seven-plus innings while striking out seven and walking two.

"I think he did a fantastic job for us, especially in this ballpark against this lineup," said Nationals manager Manny Acta. "He did well, and threw some good breaking balls."

After Steven Shell gave up a ninth inning homer, Joel Hanrahan came in to finish the ninth for his second save of the season.

Jeff Francis (3-8) struggled in his first start since coming off the disabled list, throwing only 5 1/3 innings and allowing five runs and eight hits. The southpaw fanned three in his first start since June 28 at Detroit. Francis is mired in the worst season of his career after winning at least 13 games in each of the past three seasons, highlighted by a 17-9 record in 2007.

"Fastball command (is what was wrong with Francis today)," said Rockies manager Clint Hurdle. " (He) followed the glove innings one through four, but fastball command got away from him in the fifth and sixth innings.

Matt Holliday and Yorvit Torrealba homered and Brad Hawpe batted 2-for-3 in Colorado's sixth defeat in 10 games.

The Nationals broke a scoreless tie in the fifth, as Milledge led off the frame with his 10th home run of the season.

Willie Harris' double three batters later in the inning scored Belliard, who had singled. Following a groundout, recent acquisition Bonifacio hit an RBI triple to center to give the Nationals a 3-0 lead.

Milledge tacked on his second home run of the day in the sixth, blasting a two-run shot to extend Washington's lead to five. Washington got its sixth run when Milledge added to his career day by hitting a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning.

Holliday got the Rockies on the board in the eighth, hitting his 22nd home run of the year to center to make it 6-1. Torrealba added a two- run shot in the ninth to cut the deficit to three.

Game Notes

Prior to Thursday's games, the Nationals placed outfielder Elijah Dukes on the 15-day disabled list with a right calf strain. To replace Dukes on the roster, the team called up pitcher Garrett Mock from Triple-A Columbus...The Nationals lead the season series 2-1...Despite the loss, Colorado has won eight of 10 at home against Washington...This marked the Rockies first "true" doubleheader since August 8, 2005 against Florida, and the Nationals first since August 31, 2005 against Atlanta.

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