Nationals needed early run after two losses in series and got it (Nats win 4-3)

Nationals needed early run after two losses in series and got it (Nats win 4-3)
Fresh off two rough setbacks in Miami, the Nationals wanted nothing more than to get off to a good start in the final game of the three-game set against the Marlins in Miami. They had lost the first two games - a heartbreaking 7-6 comeback loss Monday and a 3-0 shutout Tuesday. The Marlins sent out left-hander Brad Hand, who was 0-3 with an 8.71 ERA in seven games (five starts) against the Nationals. The Nationals got to him early thanks to a Denard Span walk. Anthony Rendon followed with...

With Roark leading the charge, Nats expand division lead

With Roark leading the charge, Nats expand division lead
CINCINNATI - I love stories about athletes who seemingly came out of nowhere, players who didn't break into the pros as heralded, hyped prospects but who worked hard and maximized their ability. Tanner Roark could certainly fit into that group. And his journey over the past few years continues to look cooler with each passing start. You've heard it all by now plenty of times. Roark came to the Nationals as one piece of the Cristian Guzman deal in 2010. He lost 17 games at Triple-A Syracuse...

Williams and Roark discuss Nats' 4-1 win

Williams and Roark discuss Nats' 4-1 win
CINCINNATI - Tanner Roark keeps on grooving. And so do the Nationals as a whole. Roark worked seven strong innings tonight, allowing just one run, picking up his 10th win of the year and dropping his ERA to 2.82 on the season, and the Nats picked up a 4-1 win in the opener of this three-game set with the slumping Reds. Denard Span had four hits, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base to pace an offensive performance that saw the Nats pound out 12 hits. This was the eighth straight game...

Roark and Simon in rematch of May 21 battle (Nats win 4-1)

Roark and Simon in rematch of May 21 battle (Nats win 4-1)
The Nationals managed only a Denard Span home run in their last meeting with Reds right-hander Alfredo Simon. In the first inning Friday night, the Nationals managed an Anthony Rendon single and Jayson Werth was hit by a pitch. With one out, the Nationals had men on first and second. But Adam LaRoche struck out and Ian Desmond grounded out to second. But at least they made Simon work in that first inning. Simon, who had been a reliever for most of his career, is starting exclusively this...

Williams on Roark, Span and more after Nats' 8-3 win

Williams on Roark, Span and more after Nats' 8-3 win
Tanner Roark continues to impress. And the right-hander, who just over a year ago was still working out of the bullpen at Triple-A Syracuse, now leads the Nationals in wins. Roark allowed just one run in seven stellar innings, the Nats' bats exploded for five runs in the first inning, knocking Matt Garza from the game after just a third of an inning, and the Nationals picked up an 8-3 win to even this series with the Brewers. Wilson Ramos had three hits and three RBIs, Ryan Zimmerman drove...

Nationals help Roark early and he does the rest

Nationals help Roark early and he does the rest
Doesn't matter if you start Tanner Roark after 10 days off, four days, five days or spot duty. He always seems to deliver. On Thursday, Gio Gonzalez could not get back to D.C. because of a flight cancellation. Manager Matt Williams moved Roark up to Saturday and he quickly adapted. The Nationals scored five runs in the first inning Saturday and Roark went seven innings in an 8-3 dispatch of the Brewers. Roark said he is getting great movement on his slider because he has adjusted the way he...

Familiar lineup behind Roark against Brewers

Familiar lineup behind Roark against Brewers
Aside from the starting pitcher - in this case, right-hander Tanner Roark - it'll be a familiar Nationals lineup facing Brewers righty Matt Garza tonight at Nats Park. For the NationalsCF Denard Span 2B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche 3B Ryan Zimmerman LF Bryce Harper SS Ian Desmond C Wilson Ramos RHP Tanner Roark

Zimmermann looks good for Tuesday, Roark bumped up to Saturday night

Zimmermann looks good for Tuesday, Roark bumped up to Saturday night
Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will start Tuesday night against the Colorado Rockies in Denver if everything goes well during his throwing this week. Zimmermann left last Friday's game at Philadelphia in the fourth inning with a right biceps cramp. An MRI revealed a biceps strain. He was not place on the disabled list. Zimmermann threw from 100 feet yesterday and will throw longer yardage today. Manager Matt Williams confirmed that Zimmermann is good to go and outlined this week's...

Nationals lineup for series finale vs. Phillies

Nationals lineup for series finale vs. Phillies
PHILADELPHIA - As the Nationals get ready to play their final game before the All-Star break, Tanner Roark will be making his first start since July 4. Roark was supposed to start Tuesday's game against the Orioles, but the game was postponed due to rain. Manager Matt Williams decided to skip Roark's spot in the rotation and instead opted to start Doug Fister on regular rest. Roark will face Phillies right-hander Kyle Kendrick. For the Nationals CF Denard Span 2B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson...

Williams on Roark's resilience, Espinosa's work ethic and LaRoche's extra effort

Williams on Roark's resilience, Espinosa's work ethic and LaRoche's extra effort
Nationals manager Matt Williams said in his pregame meeting with the media that the Nationals decided to push right-hander Tanner Roark back to the final game before the All-Star break because they can use him out of the bullpen over the next couple of days. "Tanner's got resiliency. We can use him out of the bullpen If need be," Williams said. "That's another factor. So if we get into a game where we need him, he's available today, tomorrow. He's done it before. All of those things come...

More coming out of last night's postponement

More coming out of last night's postponement
There was some chatter in the press box during last night's lengthy 2-hour, 30-minute rain delay about whether the Nationals and Orioles would consider a day-night, two-city doubleheader today, if last night's game was to get postponed. Well, last night's game was postponed. And according to Nats manager Matt Williams, that doubleheader split between Nats Park and Camden Yards was not considered. A similar doubleheader schedule was put into place a handful of years ago when the Yankees and...

Roark, Span and Barrett after 7-2 loss to Cubs

Roark, Span and Barrett after 7-2 loss to Cubs
Right-hander Tanner Roark suffered his sixth loss of the season Friday, 7-2 to the Cubs at Nationals Park. That is the second loss to Chicago in as many starts. Each time, he allowed four runs. "They did what they did last time, base hit me, just got beat," Roark said. He also had a chance to impact the offense when he came up with two men on and no outs in the fifth, but was unable to lay the bunt down. His bunt went foul toward third base on a 3-2 count and he struck out. The Nationals...

Williams discusses Nats' 7-2 July 4 loss

Williams discusses Nats' 7-2 July 4 loss
In front of the largest July 4 crowd in the seven-year history of Nationals Park, the Cubs put up 14 hits, scored in five different innings and picked up a 7-2 win in the first of three games between these two teams in D.C. Tanner Roark lost his second straight outing to the Cubs, allowing four runs over seven innings, and after the Nationals had trimmed the Chicago lead to 4-2 after seven, the visitors opened the game back up with a three-run ninth to secure the win. Jayson Werth hit a solo...

Hearing from Williams, Roark and Blevins after 7-2 loss (Hill optioned, Cedeno coming up)

Hearing from Williams, Roark and Blevins after 7-2 loss (Hill optioned, Cedeno coming up)
CHICAGO - The Nationals couldn't manage much offense against Cubs starter Jason Hammel, and Chicago put up 12 hits on Tanner Roark and Jerry Blevins, scoring seven runs and taking a 7-2 win in the second game of this four-game series. The Cubs have now taken the first two games, and the Nats will need to sweep the doubleheader tomorrow in order to head home with a split in this series and a winning road trip. Pitching near his hometown of Wilmington, Ill., Roark allowed four runs on 10 hits...

Nats strike first, Cubs answer quickly for lead (Nats lose 7-2)

Nats strike first, Cubs answer quickly for lead (Nats lose 7-2)
The Nationals didn't need long to take their first lead of the series in Chicago. After going three up, three down in the first, Adam LaRoche led off the second with a single and Ryan Zimmerman doubled to left off Jason Hammel to give the Nats a 1-0 advantage over the Cubs. Zimmerman reached third on the throw and Wilson Ramos walked to put runners on the corners. But Zimmerman was thrown out at home when aggressively trying to score on Ian Desmond's fielder's choice grounder. Desmond and...

Roark pitching close to home, lineups for matinee at Wrigley

Roark pitching close to home, lineups for matinee at Wrigley
CHICAGO - Tanner Roark, a native of Wilmington, Ill., will have a huge cheering section at Wrigley Field this afternoon when he makes his first career start close to home. He made one relief appearance in Chicago last season, earning the decision in the Nats' 11-6 win there on Aug. 21, 2013. But now he gets to the be the Nationals' featured pitcher in front of his friends and family. And Roark does so as one of the team's hottest starters. The right-hander has allowed three runs or...

Williams on Roark, Espinosa, Werth, Desmond, beating Atlanta

Williams on Roark, Espinosa, Werth, Desmond, beating Atlanta
Nationals manager Matt Williams was proud the team was able to bounce back after losing the first two games of its series with Atlanta to earn a pair of victories on Saturday and Sunday and remain atop the National League East. "After the first two, I am proud of the guys for staying in there and battling," Williams said. "We have talked about it many times - you have to have a short memory. After the first two, got two real good pitching performances and the guys battled to get some runs...

Roark, Zimmerman, Stammen, Espinosa know importance of split against Braves

Roark, Zimmerman, Stammen, Espinosa know importance of split against Braves
The Nationals earned a much-needed 4-1 win over the Braves Sunday to split the series between the top two teams in the National League East. Craig Stammen got five outs in relief to help the cause and said the Nationals are too good to not be able to stay competitive with the Braves, despite their recent struggles in the series. "I think the odds were in our favor to finally win a game against them," Stammen said. "Two in a row is definitely good, we were able to split with them in a...

Nationals hit Santana and Braves early to grab lead (Nats win 4-1)

Nationals hit Santana and Braves early to grab lead (Nats win 4-1)
Braves right-hander Ervin Santana has lost two in a row, to the Rockies and the Phillies. He has given up 10 runs, nine of them earned during those stints. He came in 0-0 with a 3.67 ERA in four career starts against the Nationals, allowing 11 runs and 24 hits in 27 innings with 27 strikeouts and 10 walks. On Sunday, the Nationals jumped on him quickly in the first inning. After almost plunking the hot-hitting Anthony Rendon on his first delivery, Santana walked him. Jayson Werth followed...

Roark on mound for series finale vs. Braves (plus lineups)

Roark on mound for series finale vs. Braves (plus lineups)
The Nationals are fielding the majority of their regular lineup with a chance to split their four-game series with the Braves this afternoon. The only change from yesterday is Sandy Leon starting behind the plate a day game after a night game. Right-hander Tanner Roark is on the mound looking to continue an extended run of strong pitching. The 27-year-old hasn't surrendered more than three runs since May 3 for a streak of eight straight starts with three earned runs or fewer. During that...