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DENVER (AP) — D.J. LeMahieu hasn't had much to say about his recent success, which is fine because his bat is saying plenty.
LeMahieu kept tormenting the Nationals with two hits, Gerardo Parra drove in four runs and the Rockies beat Stephen Strasburg and Washington 12-10 on Wednesday.
Tony Wolters homered and had three hits, and Charlie Blackmon extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Rockies.
LeMahieu singled in his first at-bat to stretch his on-base streak to 10 plate appearances, the fourth longest in club history. The streak ended when he struck out to end Colorado's seven-run first inning.
It was the first time Washington retired LeMahieu during this three-game series. LeMahieu was 4 for 4 on Monday and 3 for 3 with a walk Tuesday. He also walked in his final at-bat Sunday against Philadelphia.
"I feel comfortable, relaxed, confident," the soft-spoken LeMahieu said after raising his average to .343, second in the NL.
LeMahieu has elevated his average 15 points over the last five games and combined with Blackmon at the top of the order to spark Colorado's offense. Blackmon is hitting .346 since July 1.
"Both guys have really upped their game," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "Both are getting on base at a really high rate. They're a big reason why our offense is performing better."
Bryce Harper homered and Jayson Werth extended his on-base streak to 45 games, the longest in Nationals history and one behind Rusty Staub's franchise record. Staub reached base in 46 straight games for the Montreal Expos spanning the 1969-70 seasons.
Strasburg (15-4) continued his recent struggles with his shortest outing of the season. After winning 15 of his first 16 starts, the right-hander has allowed 19 earned runs and 24 hits in the last 11 2/3 innings. His ERA is up nearly a run, from 2.63 to 3.59, in his last four starts.
"You just kind of got to put them behind you," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "For one, you got to quit counting because if you don't quit counting, it goes to four and five and it gets in your head. He'll get it together."
The first six batters reached against Strasburg on Wednesday. Colorado sent 11 to the plate in the first and eight more in the second to build a 9-2 lead.
Parra had the big hit in the first, a three-run double that made it 4-0.
Koda Glover relieved Strasburg after Wolters' two-out single in the second.
"You don't want to just become passive or change the way you go about your business," Strasburg said. "I think it's just one of those games where I didn't execute it enough in spots and I got beat on it."
Rockies starter Jon Gray allowed four runs and six hits in four innings and has allowed 18 earned runs over his last 11 innings.
Harper made it 9-6 in the fifth with a two-run shot that traveled 461 feet to right-center. Colorado scored three times in the bottom of the inning to make it 12-6.
Pedro Severino had a pinch-hit homer in the seventh and Trea Turner led off the eighth with a triple and scored on Werth's sacrifice fly.
Boone Logan (2-2) struck out Daniel Murphy and Harper to end the eighth before Scott Oberg allowed a solo home run to Chris Heisey before closing it out for his first save.
"You'd like for it to be a little easier than that after a seven-run first but that's usually how it goes here," Weiss said. "You get a big inning early and you end up having to hang on. It's not how we drew it up but a great win."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Washington: LHP Sammy Solis was placed on the 15-day DL with left shoulder inflammation. Solis got the win with an inning of relief Monday but was not available Tuesday. ... The Nationals recalled Glover from Triple-A Syracuse, and he pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Colorado: OF Carlos Gonzalez was not in the lineup for precautionary reasons. Gonzalez has been bothered by a left ankle injury suffered Aug. 6 but worked his way back without going on the disabled list. Weiss said he didn't want to play him in a day game after a night game, and an off day Thursday gives him extra rest.
UP NEXT
Nationals: RHP Reynaldo Lopez (1-1, 5.74) opens a four-game series in Atlanta. Lopez tossed seven innings of one-run ball against the Braves on Sunday.
Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (4-4, 3.42) faces the surging Chicago Cubs on Friday. He was ejected in the fourth inning of his last start, at Philadelphia.
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