Argyle Field
courtesy of evegophotos

Washington Nationals right-handed starting pitcher Tanner Roark notched a career-first on Saturday afternoon when he threw a  three-hit complete game shutout to beat the San Diego Padres 4-0. Roark threw 105 pitches and 73 strikes while walking one batter and striking out eight as he led the Nats to their second win of the three game series.

An early offensive rally for Washington against the Padres’ right-handed pitcher Andrew Cashner initiated the eventual win by putting the Nats up 3-0 in the first inning. After a leadoff fly out to right field hit by outfielder Denard Span, the next four Nats batters reached base.

Third baseman Anthony Rendon led the rally off with a single to left field before outfielder Jayson Werth and first baseman Adam LaRoche hit back-to-back singles. Ultimately, a bit of sloppy fielding by San Diego assisted the Nats in picking up their runs in the first inning.

LaRoche’s single to right field allowed Rendon to score the Nats’ first run. That’s when a throwing error by Padres first baseman Yonder Alonso allowed Werth to advance to third. Shortstop Ian Desmond proceeded to crush a two-run double to right field sending Werth and LaRoche home, making it a 3-0 game.

Roark held the Padres to a no-hitter through the first 16 batters faced. Catcher Rene Rivera broke that no-hit bid with a single to center field in the sixth inning with one out.

To answer back, the Nats tacked on their fourth run of the afternoon in the sixth inning when left fielder Kevin Frandsen scored on a single hit through the hole at shortstop by Span off Cashner.

The Padres moved from Cashner to their bullpen in the seventh inning and allowed the Nats a total of one hit (while hitting a batter) before Washington proceeded to shutout the San Diego ballclub 4-0.