DENVER, COLORADO - APRIL 20 - ​The Washington Nationals took the first game in Colorado by a score of 12-11 after an early lead was almost blown. The Nats’ offense exploded against Chase Dollander, but the bullpen struggled to hold things down.​

MacKenzie Gore delivered a dominant performance in his start, tying his career high from Opening Day with 13 strikeouts over six innings. He allowed just two runs on four hits and two walks, effectively neutralizing the Rockies' lineup through the first two-thirds of the game. ​When he was relieved by Lucas Sims, many fans did not feel anything was wrong since the team was up by 10. However, he and Colin Poche gave up six runs combined in that inning while just recording two outs, making the score 12-8. Jose A. Ferrer gave up two of his own in his 1.1 innings of work, making it a save situation. In the ninth, Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan walked Hunter Goodman and allowed an RBI triple to Mickey Moniak, narrowing the lead to 12-11. With the tying run on third, Finnegan struck out Beck looking on a 1-2 fastball to secure his seventh save of the season. ​

Offensively, the Nationals erupted early. In the second inning, Dylan Crews launched his first home run of the year, a two-run shot to right-center, putting Washington ahead 2-0. Though Colorado quickly tied it with a two-run homer from Mickey Moniak in the bottom half, the Nationals regained control in the fourth. Josh Bell led off with a solo homer, followed by a fielder's choice RBI from José Tena. James Wood then crushed a three-run homer, extending the lead to 7-2. Crews added his second homer of the game in the fifth, a two-run blast that chased Dollander from the mound. ​Washington continued to pile on in the seventh. Tena's two-run single and Wood's RBI single pushed the lead to 12-2.

The Nationals' offense was led by Crews, who went 3-for-5 with two homers and four RBIs, and Wood, who also had three hits, including a homer, and four RBIs. Tena contributed three RBIs, while Bell added a solo homer. Luis García Jr. reached base five times, scoring four runs and stealing a base. ​

Despite the bullpen's struggles, Washington's early offensive explosion and Gore's strong start were enough to withstand Colorado's late surge. The Nationals improved to 8-12, while the Rockies fell to a league-worst 3-16, extending their losing streak to seven games. ​

Up next…

The Nats and Rockies are set to face off again today in a doubleheader at Coors Field. In Game 1, Washington's Jake Irvin (1-0, 3.91 ERA) will oppose Colorado's Kyle Freeland (0-3, 4.88 ERA). Game 2 will be Nationals right-hander Brad Lord (0-1, 4.82 ERA) against Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela (0-3, 5.89 ERA). Andry Lara was appointed as the Nats’ 27th player for the day.