GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: COLORADO (48-46) at WASHINGTON (39-55)

Jimenez's walk-off single completes Nationals' comeback

<h3>WASHINGTON 5, COLORADO 4 (10 INNINGS)</h3>WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- D'Angelo Jimenez's first hit as a pinchhitter helped the Washington Nationals to a rare win over theColorado Rockies.


Jimenez hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning as theNationals posted a 5-4 victory over the Rockies on Thursday.

Jimenez's base hit through the box scored Austin Kearns, who ledoff the 10th by drawing a walk from LaTroy Hawkins (1-5).

Kearns was sacrificed to second and advanced to third on apassed ball charged to Yorvitt Torrealba. That set the stagefor Jimenez, who hit a 2-0 pitch into center field and wasmobbed by teammates at first base.


Jimenez, who had been 0-for-20 as a pinch hitter, raised hisseason average to .077 (2-for-26).


"I was so excited when I hit the ball," Jimenez said. "Theyalmost caught it, but I said, 'It's a base hit.' It's kind ofbeen frustrating."


Washington manager Manny Acta was not surprised the Rockieselected to face Jimenez instead of walking him to set up apossible double play.


"I would pitch to him. He was 0-for-20," Acta said. "Everyonein there was pulling for him."


Along with Jimenez, Washington's bullpen was a huge reason whythe Nationals picked up their first win over the Rockies in ninetries.


Luis Ayala, Chad Cordero and Jon Rauch (4-2) combined for fourperfect innings before Jimenez's heroics.


Meanwhile, Hawkins was upset with himself for walking theleadoff hitter in the 10th, his second inning of work.

"I don't like walking guys," Hawkins said. "If you beat me, I'dlike you to beat me the way that you did. I don't like givingfree passes."


Washington, which boasts the worst record in the NationalLeague, rallied against one of the hottest teams in the game byscoring two runs in the eighth.


A two-out single by pinch hitter Jesus Flores and a costly errorby Colorado right fielder Brad Hawpe helped the Nationals tiethe game at 4-4.


With runners on first and second, Flores laced a single intoright, and a charging Hawpe had the ball skip under his gloveand roll all the way to the wall. Kearns came around to scorethe tying run and send RFK Stadium into a frenzy.


"I didn't field it," Hawpe said. "No excuses. (I) just screwedup." The late rally denied rookie Ubaldo Jimenez his firstcareer win. One of Colorado's top pitching prospects, UbaldoJimenez allowed two runs and four hits with five strikeouts andtwo walks in five-plus innings.


The 23-year-old, who made his season debut because TaylorBuchholz was moved to the bullpen, had made just one previousstart in the major leagues.


Meanwhile, Washington rookie Matt Chico allowed four runs andseven hits in six innings. He has just one win in his last 11starts.