WASHINGTON -- Stephen Strasburg struck out nine over seven innings, Ian Desmond homered in the seventh to help give the righty his first win in June and the Washington Nationals beat the slumping Colorado Rockies 2-1 on Friday night. Making his 14th start of the season, Strasburg (4-6) allowed one run on five hits for his first victory since May 31. After DJ LeMahieus RBI single in the third inning, Strasburg kept the Rockies scoreless. Colorado lost its fifth straight. Trailing 1-0 with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Anthony Rendon singled off Rockies starter Tyler Chatwood and came around to score the tying run on Ryan Zimmermans double into the right field corner. Facing reliever Manny Corpas (0-2) leading off the seventh, Desmond swatted a 2-0 pitch over the centre field wall for his 12th homer of the year. Reliever Drew Storen worked the eighth and Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth for his 19th save as the Nationals moved one game above .500 at 37-36 while the Rockies fell one game under at 37-38. Colorado picked up a timely two-out hit in the third as LeMahieu singled to left, scoring Josh Rutledge from second. That was the Rockies only hit in 11 at-bats with runners in scoring position. They have scored two runs through the opening two games of the four-game series. After Dexter Fowler reached second base with one out in the eighth following a walk and Storens throwing error, Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer struck out. In two starts since returning from the disabled list on June 16 following a lower lat strain, Strasburg has surrendered one earned run and seven hits over 12 innings. That type of effort has not always led to wins thanks to Washingtons batting woes. In his six losses, the Nationals have scored eight total runs. Corpas pitched 1 2-3 innings, allowing only Desmonds homer. Chatwood gave up one run and four hits over six innings with four strikeouts and two walks. He entered the game having allowed one earned run in three road starts. The Nationals failed to put a runner into scoring position through five innings. Rendon had two of the Nationals five hits. Cuddyers opposite field single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to 19 games, the longest active streak in the majors. Cuddyer promptly stole second base and moved to third with one out, but Strasburg neatly ended the threat with a strikeout and grounder. NOTES: Nationals manager Davey Johnson said he expects OF Bryce Harper to begin a rehab assignment at single-A Potomac on Tuesday. Sidelined since May 26 with left knee bursitis, Harper ran in the outfield on Friday and was expected to take swings in the indoor batting cage. ... Cuddyer has reached base safely in 38 straight games, tying the Rockies record set by Matt Holliday in 2007. ...Fowler (right ring finger) returned to the Rockies lineup in the leadoff spot after missing the previous three games. ... The Rockies called up OF Corey Dickerson from Triple-A Colorado Springs and designated RHP Logan Kensing for assignment. ...Colorado RHP Jhoulys Chacin (5-3, 4.26) opposes Dan Haren (4-8, 5.72) for Saturdays 12:05 p.m. matchup Edmonton Oilers Store . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. Edmonton Oilers Shirts . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. https://www.cheapoilers.com/ .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Edmonton Oilers Gear . Mats Zuccarello and Derek Stepan scored shootout goals, and backup goalie Cam Talbot earned his second win in two nights as the Rangers shook off a late tying tally and beat the Maple Leafs 2-1 Monday night. Oilers Jerseys 2020 . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. North Melbourne coach Brad Scott is forcing a feted quartet of players out of the club, but not into AFL retirement.Scott says whether Brent Harvey, Drew Petrie, Nick Dal Santo and Michael Firrito seek to extend their careers at other clubs is up to them.And hes described his decision to tell the quartet they wont be offered fresh contracts by North as among his toughest times in football.AFL games record holder Harvey is believed to want to continue playing next year, with a batch of clubs circling, and Dal Santo is also expected to consider offers to play on.In my view its never a coachs role to retire players. Ever, Scott said after Norths season ended with a 62-point elimination final loss to Adelaide on Saturday night.Players decide when they retire and I was determined never at any stage to coerce, force, direct, Boomer (Harvey) with what he wanted to do.Im charged with responsibility of doing the right thing by our football club.But I still regard myself as a a players coach so the things that have unfolded in the second half of the year have been as tough as any period of my time in footy.But we will not force Boommer to make a decision one way or the other.dddddddddddd That decision will be entirely his.Scott said farewelling the club greats on Saturday night was really tough for everyone involved.The senior players are going to leave a magnificent legacy for our football club but theres no doubt the landscape will look completely different next year, he said.They leave a huge hole but there are plenty of guys who are really hungry and eager to fill those holes.But right now ... the overwhelming feeling is one of reflecting on the legacy that those guys will leave us, because it will last at our football club for generations.Everyone will remember the great deeds on field and everyone within the club will remember all of the boys and what they did for us off field.But over-riding all of that will be the legacy for the next generations of North Melbourne footballers who will get to experience the culture and the legacy that Brent Harvey, Michael Firrito, Drew Petrie and Nick Dal Santo have left for them. 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