Nats Nightly

Tanner Roark was winless in May heading into tonight's start against the Seattle Mariners, but Washington's hard-working right-hander put together a solid outing, giving up just one run on eight hits in seven innings over which he struck out eight and collected nine ground ball outs. A four-run first, which saw Anthony Rendon hit a three-run home run (his 3rd HR in the last two games) was all Roark and the Nationals needed as they took their second straight from the Mariners and won their third straight overall. Nationals now 28-17.

In four major league starts this season, Joe Ross has received 62 runs of support. That is not a typo. It is a record. 10-1 Nationals over the Mariners tonight. Ross went eight strong in his return to the majors, giving up just one run on a solo home run in the sixth. Anthony Rendon (2), Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper all homered in the fourth, as the Nationals connected for nine hits and eight runs in a big inning that blew this one wide open. Nationals now 27-17.

Stephen Strasburg threw seven scoreless before running into trouble in the eighth, but the Washington Nationals held on for a sweep-avoiding 3-2 win over the Atlanta Braves in the finale in SunTrust Park. With the win, the Nationals also brought an end to a four-game slide. Strasburg struck out 11 in 7 2/3 IP, leading the Nationals to the win and Koda Glover recorded a four-out save to lock it down as the Nats improved to 26-17 overall on the season.

Shawn Kelley worked his way out of a tough seventh, but Enny Romero ran into trouble in the eighth as the Washington Nationals’ bullpen faltered again in a 7-4 loss to the Atlanta Braves. The Nats took each of the first three games in the Braves' new home this season, but dropped their third straight game overall tonight in the first of three with their NL East rivals this weekend, falling to 25-16 overall on the season. Max Scherzer starts tomorrow afternoon in Hotlanta.

Gerrit Cole held the Washington Nationals to one run on three hits in seven innings and a three-run blast by Josh Bell in the sixth was all the offense the Pittsburgh Pirates needed in a 6-1 win. Jacob Turner matched Cole through five scoreless, but ran into trouble in the Bucs' sixth, giving up the blast by Bell. The Pirates' win set up a rubber match tomorrow afternoon in a 12:35 PM EDT game in PNC. Nationals 25-14 after the loss.

A late home run by Bryce Harper gave the Washington Nationals some breathing room and they held on for an 8-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the series opener in PNC Park. Stephen Strasburg went 6+ innings on the mound against the Pirates and after some shaky moments, the Nats held on for the win and improved to 25-13 on the year with the victory. Two more with the Pirates to come. If you didn't see Harper's blast, go watch it now...

Just when it looked like the Washington Nationals’ bullpen had blown another game, Michael A. Taylor hit a two-run jack in the bottom of the eighth to left the Nats to a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, avoiding a second loss today in the bullpen. The Nats took a 4-3 lead into the eighth, but gave up the lead, after a blown save in the day half of the doubleheader, but Taylor's two-run blast saved the day. Nationals now 24-13.

It was tied at 4-4 after eight and a half in the nation’s capital, but the Washington Nationals walked off again, beating the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-4 on a Bryce Harper home run. Harper signed a $21.625M dollar deal for 2018 this afternoon, then went out and beat the Nationals' NL East rivals with his second walk-off winner against the Phillies this season. Harper's 11th of 2017 sent the fans in Nats Park home happy and the Nationals improved to 23-12 on the season.

A ninth inning rally helped the Washington Nationals avoid their fourth straight loss as they came from behind to beat the Baltimore Orioles, 7-6. Jayson Werth battled O's closer Brad Brach for 11 pitches before launching a solo shot that got the Nats within one and they loaded the bases in front of former Orioles' catcher Matt Wieters, who stuck the dagger in with a walk-off single that won it for Washington. 7-6 final in the nation's capital. Nationals now 22-12.

The Washington Nationals took a 5-2 lead into the eighth this afternoon in Citizens Bank Park, but Matt Albers left a slider up that ended up sailing out to center for a game-tying three-run home run, and the Philadelphia Phillies won it in extras on a bases-loaded, walk-off sac fly by Freddy Galvis. With the win, the Phillies avoided getting swept in the three-game weekend set and the Nationals headed off to Baltimore 21-10 on the season. The first of two with the Orioles starts at 7:05 PM tomorrow night.