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Nationals: Kemp Ruins Roark’s Outing As Nats Lose To Padres

By Ricky Keeler

Jul 22, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Matt Kemp (27) hits a three run homer against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 22, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Matt Kemp (27) hits a three run homer against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Matt Kemp’s two home runs against Tanner Roark led to the Washington Nationals losing the series opener to the Padres

Yesterday, Stephen Strasburg allowed two home runs to Justin Turner in a Washington Nationals loss. Tonight, that trend continued as Tanner Roark only lasted five innings and gave up two home runs to Matt Kemp as the Nats lost the series opener to the Padres by a score of 5-3.

Kemp got the scoring started in the top of the first when he hit a two-out solo home run to left center for his 21st home run of the season. The Washington Nationals would answer back with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

With one out, Jayson Werth hit a solo home run to center against Luis Perdomo to tie the game at one. That home run was Werth’s 12th of the season. Three batters later, after a walk and stolen base by Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos hit a single to right to give the Nats a 2-1 lead.

Roark would throw three more scoreless innings after the first, but the fifth inning ended up being his demise. It began when Roark hit the leadoff hitter, Brett Wallace, with a 0-2 pitch. Later in the inning, with Wallace on second, Melvin Upton Jr. hit a single to left to tie the game at two.

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After Ryan Schimpf drew a walk, Kemp struck again as he crushed a three-run homer to center, his 22nd of the season, to give the Padres their first lead of the night. That inning would be the last Roark would throw in the game. He went five innings, gave up five runs on four hits, struck out four, and walked two on 93 pitches (54 strikes) in a loss.

As for the Washington Nationals offense, they could not get much done against Perdomo after the first inning. The Padres rookie right-hander went seven innings, gave up two runs on four hits, struck out three, and walked one on 100 pitches (65 strikes) in the win.

After Roark, the bullpen trio of Felipe Rivero, Oliver Perez, and Jonathan Papelbon shut out the Padres for the final four innings while striking out four batters (three from Rivero in two innings).

In the eighth, Daniel Murphy cut the Washington Nationals deficit to two by hitting a solo home run to right against Brad Hand for his 19th of the season. That home run was also the first run Hand has given up this month.

Next: Padres-Nationals Series Preview (7/22-7/24)

Ramos would single with two outs in the eighth against Hand for his third hit of the night, but Brandon Maurer got Anthony Rendon to line out to center to end the inning. During the bottom of the ninth, Chris Heisey drew a pinch-hit two out walk, but Ben Revere would fly out to center to end the game as Maurer picked up a four-out save.

Next Game: The Washington Nationals (57-39) will be back in action tomorrow night against the San Diego Padres (42-55) at Nats Park. You can catch the game on MASN at 7:05 p.m ET. Max Scherzer (10-6, 2.94 ERA) will get the start for the Nationals against Edwin Jackson (1-1, 4.76)  for the Padres.

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