Nationals: Tanner Roark Shuts Out Phillies In Series Opener

Once again, Tanner Roark had a great start against the Phillies as the Washington Nationals won the series opener, 4-0.

After losing the final two games against the Rockies this past weekend, the Washington Nationals (76-55) gave Tanner Roark the ball for tonight’s series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies (60-71). Roark was able to keep the Phillies off the board for seven innings. Meanwhile, the offense didn’t do much against Jake Thompson, but it was just enough as the Nats beat the Phillies, 4-0.

Jayson Werth got the scoring started in the top of the first when he hit a solo home run to left field against Thompson. It was Werth’s 19^th home run of the season. Two batters later, after a Bryce Harper walk, Anthony Rendon hit a base hit to left center. Harper was running on the pitch and ended up scoring all the way from first to increase the lead to 2-0.

Those two runs would be the only scoring Thompson would allow. The Phillies right-hander did not allow an extra-base hit for the rest of the night. Plus, the Washington Nationals only had one at-bat with a runner in scoring position against Thompson the whole night (Trea Turner strikeout in the seventh).

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Thompson ended up going seven innings, which was the longest he has gone in any game in his career (fifth Major League start). He gave up two runs on seven hits, struck out three, and walked one on 111 pitches (64 strikes) in the loss.

As for Roark, he didn’t give up an extra-base hit tonight. The Washington Nationals right-hander threw seven shutout innings, gave up four hits, struck out five, and walked one on 100 pitches (63 strikes) as he picked up his 14^th win of the season. He is 3-0 in four starts against the Phillies this season.

While Roark hit Freddy Galvis in the third (third hit batter in two games), he was able to induce two key double plays. Plus, he was able to pick up an infield single in the top of the sixth inning.

In the ninth, the Washington Nationals got an insurance run thanks to some help from the Phillies. Rendon started the inning by striking out, but reaching base on a passed ball. Then, an errant pickoff throw by Frank Herrmann that ended up being touched by a fan and allowed Rendon to go to third.

After that wild pickoff throw, Clint Robinson drove in Rendon with a base hit to right, which put the Nats up 3-0. Robinson went 2-for-4 tonight as he got the start at first base over Ryan Zimmerman.

Robinson was one of only two Washington Nationals to have a multi-hit game (Daniel Murphy was the other). Later in the inning, with runners on the corners, Turner extended his hit streak to seven games with a base hit to left field that put the Nats up 4-0.

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Once Roark’s night was over, Marc Rzepczynski threw a perfect eighth inning, including a strikeout of pinch-hitter Tyler Goeddel. Despite it being a non-save situation in the ninth, Mark Melancon came in and retired the Phillies in order to end the game.

Next Game: The Washington Nationals will continue their series against the Philadelphia Phillies tomorrow night at Citizens Bank Park. You can watch the game on MASN2 at 7:05 p.m ET. Max Scherzer (14-7, 2.92 ERA) will start for the Nats against Jerad Eickhoff (9-12, 3.87) for the Phillies.

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