Chaparro, Abrams stay hot as Nats' league-best offense beats Rockies

DENVER – The ball is known to fly at Coors Field. So when the Nationals entered their series against the Rockies, manager Blake Butera didn’t want the hitters to try to do too much.

Their approach has produced baseball’s top offense this season. No need to do anything extra in Denver.

The Nationals followed that approach and drove in nearly all of their runs off three homers in the 7-3 victory over the Rockies on Monday. Following their win, they rank first in the Majors with 147 home runs and 552 runs scored.

“A lot of it's just going about their business the same way and not trying to do anything differently,” Butera said pregame. “I think sometimes when you worry about that a little bit, it can change your approach – especially offensively – if you're trying to get the ball in the air maybe a little bit more because you know that the ball is flying better. So we're just trying to make sure these guys stay true to their plans.”

Andrés Chaparro put the Nationals on the board with a Statcast-estimated 427-foot, three-run home run in the first inning. Chaparro continued his hot streak at the plate, as he went 4-for-5 with two home runs and eight RBIs on Friday against the Athletics.

Chaparro has hit three of his four homers this season in the past three days, after batting .167 in the first half. He is the first Nats player this season to record at least 11 RBIs in a three-game span.

“Chappy has been on fire lately,” said Butera. “I know there was some frustration from his part early on [in the season]. I thought he was hitting some balls hard, just didn't really have a lot to show for it. Then he really went off in Sacramento after the All-Star break, and then continued his hot stretch here today with that big three-run homer for us. Happy to see him going.”

Jacob Young broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth inning by hitting his first home run since June 1 – a projected 437-foot solo homer off Kyle Freeland. Colorado Springs native Riley Cornelio appreciated having a lead when he came back out to pitch the sixth.

“It helps a ton,” said Cornelio, who earned his first Major League win. “They rake, so it’s awesome to continue to see them go out there and put together great at-bats.”

CJ Abrams gave the Nationals a pair of insurance runs in the seventh when he went yard for his 22nd homer of the season. He also hit a home run Sunday, marking already the fourth time this season he has homered in back-to-back games. Abrams’ 420-foot, two-run shot off Antonio Senzatela brought his July totals to seven extra-base hits and 12 RBIs.

“It gives me an extra run to work with if it goes south,” said Tom Cosgrove, who pitched two scoreless innings to earn his first save as a member of the Nationals.

The Nationals have hit multiple home runs in 10 of their last 11 games. They have two more games at Coors Field, with an opportunity to increase that number in a hitter-friendly ballpark.

“I feel very proud of the team we have,” Chaparro said. “We work hard, try to get better every day. I think we are a very special team.”