Garrett Hampson, Brendan Rodgers lift Rockies over Nationals

Sneaky-pull pop, a power surge and the safety net of key double plays provided the Rockies with a 9-7 victory over Washington on Thursday afternoon at Coors Field.

The Rockies took two of three games from the Nationals, finishing their homestand 5-1 and improving to 15-10.

“Sneaky-pull pop” is manager Bud Black’s phrase for home runs that come from unexpected players.

In this case, it was Garrett Hampson, who drove a three-run homer into the left-field bleachers in the second inning to give the Rockies a 4-2 lead. Hampson, who got a rare start at shortstop, entered the game hitting .111 and with limited playing time because of a trip to the injured list. But Hampson hit the first pitch he saw from right-hander Aaron Sanchez 387 feet.

Power was also supplied by Brendan Rodgers, who’s broken out of his April slump in a big way. He hit an RBI double in the second and then launched a three-run homer off lefty Josh Rogers in Colorado’s four-run fifth. Rodgers’ first homer of the season traveled 438 feet.

Washington cut Colorado’s lead to 8-6 with a two-run seventh off reliever Robert Stephenson, but Randal Grichuk responded with a solo homer in the bottom of the frame to provide the Rockies with a comfort zone.

Starter Antonio Senzatela was not sharp. In 4 1/3 innings, the Nationals tagged the right-hander for three runs (two earned) on seven hits. He walked two, which is not a big deal, but it marked the first time in his last 14 starts at Coors Field that he walked more than one batter.

The dangerous Juan Soto blasted a one-out homer in the first inning off Senzatela, who then walked Josh Bell. A wild throw by third baseman Ryan McMahon on Maikel Franco’s grounder allowed Bell to score all of the way from first base.

Senzatela walked a highwire in the fifth. He allowed three hits, including an RBI double by Bell, and also gave up a walk. Senzatela was rescued when catcher Dom Nunez picked off Soto at third base, and reliever Jhoulys Chacin came on and got Franco to ground into a rally-killing double play.