DENVER (AP) – John Patterson won his third straight start with eight innings of one-run ball and the Washington Nationals completed a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with a 9-2 victory Sunday.
Patterson (7-3) allowed nine hits, struck out five, walked two and lowered his ERA to 2.44. He has allowed four earned runs over his last three starts.
Nick Johnson hit a three-run home run and Jose Guillen hit a solo home run for the Nationals. Guillen, who had two hits and two RBIs, has hit 20 of his 21 home runs on the road. Former Colorado outfielder Preston Wilson, acquired by Washington in July, had two hits and two RBIs.
The series sweep is Washington’s seventh this season.
Colorado left 10 baserunners on and were swept at Coors Field for the third time this year. The Rockies have lost fourth straight.
The Rockies scored in the eighth on double to right by Todd Helton, a single to left by Matt Holliday and a sacrifice fly by Luis Gonzalez.
Washington took a 2-0 lead when Brad Wilkerson singled and moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Jose Vidro to open the fourth inning. Johnson drove in Wilkerson with a pop foul behind third base and Vidro scored on a two-out single by Preston Wilson.
The Nationals scored five runs in the fifth after two outs. Vidro delivered an RBI single to center, and after Johnson hit a three-run homer to right, Guillen hit a solo shot on the next pitch from Jose Acevedo (2-3).
Guillen and Wilson had RBI doubles in the seventh inning.
Colorado loaded the bases in the third inning on leadoff singles by Acevedo and Larry Bigbie and a one-out intentional walk to Helton. Patterson got out of the inning by getting Holliday to hit into a double play.
Notes: Wilkerson was back in the lineup after missing two games with shoulder soreness. … Vidro saved a run with a catch of pop fly hit by Omar Quintanilla that he juggled twice before catching. … Rockies SS Clint Barmes, on the disabled list with a broken collarbone since June 6, will accompany the team on in its next road trip.
AP-ES-08-14-05 1747EDT
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