Reaction: Washington Nationals Continue To Dominate Braves
By Ricky Keeler
Roark Keeps Braves In Check
Even though he wasn’t supposed to start, Tanner Roark had some of his best stuff last night against the Braves. He went seven innings, gave up no runs on four hits, struck out three, and walked four on 100 pitches (60 strikes). So far, in two starts, he has yet to allow an extra-base hit.
The one pitch that Roark used the most last night was his two-seam fastball. According to Brooks Baseball, 63 out of his 100 pitches were two-seamers with 38 of them going for strikes. But, it was effective in holding Atlanta to those four hits:
Roark's 2-seamer on the inside corner has been Maddux-like tonight. Wonder if his new pitching coach has any insight on that...
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) April 14, 2016
Even when Roark got into trouble, he found a way to get the key double play, such as in the seventh inning when Mallex Smith grounded into the 1-6-3 double play. It was definitely an improved start from last week against the Marlins, but it also shows how good Roark can be when he’s on that routine.
Plus, the one thing that Roark has done in his career is dominate the Braves, regardless of how strong their lineup is. In 13 career outings (starter or reliever) against Atlanta, he has a 4-1 record with an ERA under two.
Next: Papelbon Off To Strong Start