WASHINGTON — The swing was classic CarGo.
Fast, yet effortless. Graceful, but oh-so powerful.
During the eighth inning Friday night, in front of 33,622 stunned fans at Nationals Park, that gorgeous swing produced a two-out grand slam that lifted the Rockies to an improbable 5-4 victory over Washington.
“This is why we are here,” Carlos Gonzalez said. “I know that’s my moment. It’s important for me to step up for my guys. I’m hitting in the cleanup spot, and that’s what we get paid to do.”
The third grand slam of Gonzalez’s career came on a 1-1, 94 mph fastball from reliever Drew Storen. Like a rocket’s red glare, it got out in a hurry, coming off the bat at 114 mph and clanging off the wall behind the Nationals’ bullpen beyond the right-field fence.
“That was definitely fun, a big moment,” Gonzalez said. “The way they pitched me all night, I was kind of prepared for that fastball — middle in. They didn’t want me to get my arms extended. I was just ready.”
The last time Gonzalez hit a four-run homer was July 20, 2012, at San Diego in the third inning off Jason Marquis. Friday’s blast was the first go-ahead grand slam by a Rockies hitter in the eighth or later since Ryan Spilborghs hit a walk-off grand slam in the 14th inning Aug. 24, 2009, in a memorable victory over the Giants at Coors Field.
“Storen is lights out, one of the best in the business,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. “But CarGo is one of those elite players that can win a game any number of ways, and the bat is obviously one of them. He got the barrel to the ball and obviously he has tremendous power.”
The eighth inning began in harmless fashion with a walk by pinch-hitter Daniel Descalso — the Rockies’ first walk of the night. After an out, Jose Reyes drilled a single to left and Nolan Arenado (3-for-4) reached on an infield squibber. The stage was set for CarGo’s special delivery and the first grand slam of the season for the Rockies.
Former closer John Axford pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Tommy Kahnle celebrated his 26th birthday by recording his first save. He struck out Nationals star Bryce Harper, then pumped his fist at game’s end.
“I just wanted to challenge (Harper), so I pitched like I al- ways do,” Kahnle said. “I threw a changeup because that’s what (catcher Nick) Hundley put down.”
For most of the night, the game looked like a movie the Rockies have co-starred in too many times against Washington right-hander Jordan Zimmermann. In eight previous career starts against the Rockies, he was 5-0 with a 2.20 ERA. Friday, he gave up one run in 6 innings, allowing only four hits and striking out six.
Colorado’s lone run against him came in the seventh. Arenado cracked a double to center and scored on Ben Paulsen’s two-out single. Zimmermann departed with two outs in the seventh.
Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa was OK, putting together his sixth quality start in nine road outings, but he was certainly no match for Zimmermann in his home ballpark. De La Rosa gave up four runs (three earned) in six innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Patrick Saunders: psaunders@denverpost.com or
