WASHINGTON -- Two months of rough road baseball didn't rob third baseman Nolan Arenado or the Rockies of confidence.
Arenado had three hits Sunday in a doubleheader matinee that included his sixth triple of the season, and he drove in two runs to increase his Majors-leading total to 91. And the Rockies lashed 16 hits in a 10-6 victory over the Nationals on Sunday afternoon in the opener of a doubleheader as they try to solidify their hold on a National League Wild Card position with two months to play.

With Sunday's early win, the Rockies clinched their first road series victory -- and first consecutive road wins -- since they took the first three in a four-game set against the Cubs during April 8-11. The two victories over the National League East-leading Nats came after the Rockies were swept by St. Louis.
"Obviously, we had a tough series in St. Louis; really tough," Arenado said. "To win a series in Washington against a really good team, it feels good. But we have a long way to go -- August and September -- to start playing the baseball that we know we can play."
The Rockies battled through a 3-16 slump before beating the Nats twice in two days and improving the road record to 29-26 entering the nightcap.
Colorado did it with German Marquez's seven-inning pitching effort Saturday and hitting Sunday. Leadoff man Charlie Blackmon had four hits and DJ LeMahieu added three, including two doubles, and three RBIs ahead of Arenado. The game lasted 3 hours, 48 minutes, but the Rockies packed it with action -- maybe too much action for Arenado.
The eighth inning saw Arenado's sixth triple of the season, as his line-drive eluded Nats left fielder Howie Kendrick. Arenado loves slugging and fielding -- he had a dazzlling, over-the-head catch of an Anthony Rendon foul ball in the fifth inning. Triples are nice, but sprinting is something he doesn't enjoy or do well.

"Four more and I have 10; that would be pretty sweet," Arenado said. "But I hope I don't have to do that. I hope it would be just doubles and I would save my legs.
"But I would get a triple in my last at-bat in a four-hour baseball game."