Nationals 7, Rockies 3: Ian Desmond snapped a tie with a three-run double in a five-run sixth inning and Jordan Zimmermann continued his mastery of Colorado with six strong frames to pace host Washington.

Ryan Zimmerman recorded three hits, an RBI and scored twice, and Bryce Harper celebrated his return to the lineup after missing the last 57 games because of a thumb injury with a run-scoring single for the Nationals. Zimmermann (6-4) improved to 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA versus the Rockies after yielding two runs and striking out five.

Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Wheeler drove in runs while Justin Morneau had three hits for Colorado, which lost for the 12th time in 14 games and is 1-7 in its last eight road contests. Yohan Flande (0-1) pitched 5 1/3 innings in his second major-league start and was charged with three runs - two after he was relieved by Rob Scahill.

Anthony Rendon singled and Jayson Werth walked to start the sixth and after Flande struck out Adam LaRoche, Zimmerman greeted Scahill with an RBI double down the left-field line. Harper was intentionally walked before Desmond cleared the bases and after stealing third came home on Wilson Ramos' groundout to make it 6-2.

The Rockies took a 2-1 lead in the sixth, beginning the frame with back-to-back doubles by Drew Stubbs and Tulowitzki. Morneau singled and two batters later, Wheeler lifted a fly ball to short center and while Denard Span's throw to the plate arrived well before Tulowitzki, catcher Ramos couldn't handle the short-hop.

GAME NOTEBOOK: LaRoche belted his 12th home run of the season - a solo shot - to give the Nationals a 7-2 lead in the seventh. ... Monday marked the first time since Opening Day that Washington had its starting lineup intact. ... Zimmermann went 3-2 with a 1.43 ERA in six June starts.