DENVER -- Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos homered, Bryce Harper doubled in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning and the Washington Nationals beat the skidding Colorado Rockies 5-4 on Monday night despite a lackluster start from Max Scherzer.
Washington's bullpen pitched five scoreless innings and Colorado-native Mark Melancon earned his 34th save in 37 chances. The NL East leaders have won three straight and four of five.
Werth hit a two-run homer estimated at 442 feet in the third inning off Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa and reached safely three times to extend his on-base streak to a career-best 43 games.
The stretch is the longest in the majors this season and it ties Werth with Ryan Zimmerman for the Nationals record.
DJ LeMahieu had the fourth four-hit game of his career and Charlie Blackmon hit his sixth home run in four games for Colorado. Blackmon was selected the NL player of the week after leading the majors with seven home runs last week.
Still, the Rockies have lost eight of nine.
Scherzer allowed seven hits and four runs in four innings.
Colorado scored three in a 35-pitch first inning. David Dahl hit a two-run double with the bases loaded and Daniel Descalso added a sacrifice fly.
Blackmon made it 4-2 with his homer in the fourth.
Daniel Murphy hit an RBI single in the fifth, Ramos connected for a tying home run in the sixth and Harper hit his second double of the night in the seventh to give Washington a 5-4 lead.
Harper played for the second straight day after missing five games with a neck injury.
WITH HONORS
Blackmon also led the majors with a .563 batting average and 42 total bases last week. In seven games, he topped the NL with nine RBI and a .600 on-base percentage.
"Chuck is having a great year," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He is one of those guys who just continues to get better and I think that is directly related to his work ethic."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: Zimmerman (wrist) and C Jose Lobaton (elbow) began rehab assignments with Triple-A Syracuse. . INF Stephen Drew (vertigo-like symptoms) has increased his participation in baseball activities. . RHP Joe Ross(shoulder) will throw a bullpen session at some point during the three-game series.
Rockies: RHP Tyler Chatwood (back spasms) could skip his next start or be placed on the 15-day disabled list, Weiss said. . 1B Mark Reynolds (hand) had surgery to remove a fractured hook of the hamate bone in his left hand.
UP NEXT
Nationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (8-9, 4.24 ERA) is 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two August starts. He has struck out 12 and walked two in 12 innings.
Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (10-6, 5.27) hasn't lost a start since July 2. In his last one, he gave up five runs over five innings in 100-plus-degree heat in Texas.
