really aggressive, so thats why it was a better second set.Raonic p

WASHINGTON -- Coming off one of his worst outings of the season, Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann surrendered a pair of first-inning hits against Colorado on Thursday night. That only gave the Rockies false hopes. Zimmermann pitched eight innings to win his 10th game, Adam LaRoche had three hits including a two-run triple and the Nationals spoiled Roy Oswalts return to the majors with a 5-1 win over the Colorado on Thursday night. Ian Desmond homered for the second straight game and Denard Span and Steve Lombardozzi added a double and a single apiece for Washington, which began a stretch in which it will play 14 of its next 17 games at home. "What a game he pitched. We needed it," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said of Zimmermann. "(After an) 11-inning game last night, that was a Godsend." Zimmermann (10-3) allowed an unearned run on six hits, returning to form after surrendering six runs and eight hits in five innings Saturday in Cleveland. "I felt like I threw the ball well and had good fastball command, my slider was good and I got a big strikeout in the last inning there on a changeup," Zimmermann said. "I was throwing strikes and getting ahead of guys. I know theyre an aggressive team and that kind of works in my favour. Throw some first pitch strikes and let them hit the ball." Zimmermann retired 16 straight in one stretch, throwing 112 pitches -- 85 for strikes -- while fanning nine and walking one. Colorado finally got to Zimmermann in the eighth. Pinch hitter Josh Rutledge singled, Anthony Rendon committed a throwing error after fielding Tyler Colvins grounder and Rutledge ended up on third. DJ LeMahieu singled to score Rutledge, but Zimmermann struck out Carlos Gonzalez on a changeup and Michael Cuddyer to end the threat. "Hes starting throwing it more often, he started to get more confidence and now its a pretty good pitch," catcher Kurt Suzuki said of Zimmermanns changeup. Oswalt (0-1) went five innings in his Colorado debut, allowing four runs on nine hits. He struck out 11 and didnt walk a batter. "I felt strong," Oswalt said. "Overall felt pretty well, just, its hard to say this, but really too many strikeouts. Kind of got my pitch count up and I was trying to get deeper into the game." The 35-year-old right-hander was signed to a minor league contract May 2, and went 3-2 with a 2.16 ERA in five starts for Double-A Tulsa before being called up. "I thought Roy threw the ball extremely well, punched out 11 in five innings," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "Plenty of stuff, plenty of arm, a really good fastball. I thought he had a few tough breaks, the line could have been better than what it showed." Todd Helton and LeMahieu had two hits for the Rockies, who have lost the first four games of a nine-game road trip and fell to .500 for the first time since April 2. Desmond, who hit a grand slam in the 11th inning of Wednesdays 6-2 win at Philadelphia, homered his first time up Thursday night to put Washington ahead 1-0 after two. LaRoche led off the Washington fourth with a single. After Oswalt fanned Jayson Werth and Desmond, Lombardozzi singled. Kurt Suzuki then hit a grounder between third and short that shortstop Jonathan Herrera managed to deflect. Herrera retrieved the ball in short left, but LaRoche raced around from second and was safe on a close play at home to make it 2-0. "That feels good, when youve been lining out at people to get a hit like that feels nice," Suzuki said. LaRoche provided some insurance in the fifth when he tripled with one out, scoring Span and Rendon. Zimmermann drove in the Nationals fifth run with a sacrifice fly -- the first of his career -- in the sixth. Washington, which began play second in the NL East, won its second straight and picked up a game on division leader Atlanta. "Obviously its nice to pick up a game," LaRoche said. "We need to get ourselves on track and play some consistent ball. I dont need to tell you weve been way too streaky." NOTES: Johnson said before the game that OF Bryce Harper (left knee bursitis) ran in the outfield Thursday and was going to take swings in the indoor batting cage as he nears a rehabilitation assignment. "Hes close," Johnson said. "If it doesnt swell up tomorrow, as far as Im concerned, he can play some.". Cuddyer extended his hitting streak to 18 games. ... Washington OF Roger Bernadina, who missed Wednesdays game with eye irritation, entered the game in the ninth. ... To make room for Oswalt, the Rockies optioned LHP Jeff Francis to Triple-A Colorado Springs and designated RHP Chris Volstad, who was at Colorado Springs, for assignment. Rockie CF Dexter Fowler (right ring finger) missed his third straight game. ... Colorado RHP Tyler Chatwood (4-1, 2.33) opposes Stephen Strasburg (3-6, 2.50) Friday. Cheap Hydro Flask Free Shipping .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. Discount Hydro Flask Cheap . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing. http://www.discounthydroflaskcheap.com/ . Hargreaves began his career in 2008 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and has played with the Edmonton Eskimos and last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Discount Hydro Flask . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. Hydro Flask Clearance . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season.David Goffin continued his giant-killing run at Indian Wells by beating former US Open champion Marin Cilic 7-6 6-2 in the quarter-finals. A day after knocking third seed Stan Wawrinka out, Goffin battled through to his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final where he will meet Canadian Milos Raonic, a 7-5 6-3 victor over Frenchman Gael Monfils.Goffin saved 11 of 12 break points against Croatian Cilic before sealing the win in just over an hour-and-a-half and declared himself ready to take on another big server. Its good that in tennis you can find some solution against big players like Marin or Milos or (John) Isner, the 25-year-old said.Maybe Im quicker. I think I can take the ball earlier. I have other weapons. Thats why tennis is a nice sport.Im really happy with the way I managed the important points... it was the key of the match, to win the first set, and to be more relaxed in the second.After being forced to fighting off four set points in the opening set, Goffin took the tie-break 7-4 and then broke 10th seed Cilics serve twice in the second set.I was on my baseline and I was making him run a lot, said the Belgian, who has won two ATP titles.When I had the opportunity on his second serve, I was really aggressive, so thats why it was a better second set.Raonic pounded out 10 aces to reach the semi-finals at Indian Wells for the second straight year. Highlights of the quarter-final between Milos Raonic and Gael Monfils from Indian Wells I did things well.dddddddddddd I created opportunities for myself, the 12th seed said.I served well and when I did get myself in trouble, I felt like it was me forcing the game. Those kind of things are positive and I stuck to it and it came together.Raonic relinquished an early break to Monfils in the first set but broke back in the 12th game to go 1-0 up and carried the momentum into the second set before serving out for the victory after 90 minutes. Milos Raonic will take on Goffin in the last four The Canadian was sidelined in February because of a groin injury that helped end his run in semi-finals of the Australian Open but is fully fit now and ready to take on Goffin.Hes playing well, said Raonic. If I do the right things I can give myself a chance. I think I have shown that this year, and I hope I can keep showing that. World No 1 Novak Djokovic will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Rafa Nadal takes on Kei Nishikori in the other quarter-final matches on Friday, live on Sky Sports 5 HD from 7pm. Also See: ATP schedule Tennis on Sky Latest scores Get a NOW TV pass Video ' ' '