Rockies squander chances in dropping series finale at Washington, 7-1

Rockies Report, Game 134:

ROCKIES BOTTOM LINE: The Rockies frittered away myriad chances, getting just one run from three bases-loaded chances in the first five innings, while also failing to capitalize on nine walks delivered by Washington pitchers as they dropped the series finale to the Nationals 7-1 on Thursday afternoon.

The arc of the contest was set in the first inning.

“They brought six guys to the plate in the first inning and scored two runs; we brought six guys to the plate and scored no runs
,” Schaeffer said.

Both teams left 12 runners on base. Colorado went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position; Washington wasn’t stellar there — 3-for-17 — but did enough to seize control. Brett Suillivan’s third-inning RBI single provided Colorado’s sole run. Meanwhile, Nationals left fielder Daylen Lile continued to terrorize the Rox, hitting his third home run of the series at their expense to push Washington’s lead to 4-1 in the fifth.

Colorado fell to 52-82 and saw its two-game winning streak end.

ROCKIES STARTER’S REPORT

Rookie starter Gabriel Hughes napped his streak of games in which he’d yielded at least one inning of three or more runs, but most of the afternoon found him navigating traffic. His troubles began from the jump, as he allowed a pair of singles and then tossed a wild pitch before recording an out. A Lile single and a Brady House sacrifice fly brought those first two baserunners home for what proved to be all the offense Washington required.

B(L)OOP 🐶 pic.twitter.com/EB07c4pudH

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) August 27, 2026

“I thought it was OK. I thought he didn’t get ahead like he should,” Schaeffer said of Hughes’ start.

Two of the three first-inning singles allowed by Hughes were bloops, but as Schaeffer said, “a hit’s a hit.”

Hughes is “getting better,” Schaeffer assessed, and the rookie made it through five innings before handing the baton to the bullpen, departing with four earned runs, seven hits and four walks to his name. But his wait to become a major-league winner continues.

BITS AND PIECES

IT WAS DECIDED FOR THE ROCKIES WHEN: Johnston was picked off first base, squandering the best Colorado chance in the final innings to alter the outcome. When a question was asked about it in the postgame press conference with the sentiment that one just can’t do that, all Schaeffer could do was respond, “You said it.”

NUMBER TO NOTE: 9 — Number of times that first baseman TJ Rumfield reached base over the last two games, including five in Thursday’s game. Rumfield drew four walks with a single Thursday; he had two walks and two singles Wednesday.

WHAT’S NEXT: It’s on to Atlanta for a three-game series against the NL East leaders. Tomoyuki Sugano looks to rebound from a pair of rough home starts, while Atlanta will counter with Grant Holmes, who has some difficulty the second time through the order. First pitch from Truist Park is set for 5:15 p.m. MDT.

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