SAN DIEGO -- Tanner Roark of the Washington Nationals probably wishes he
could face the punchless San Diego Padres a few more times this season.
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Roark pitched three-hit ball for eight innings, struck out a career-high
11 and walked none, and Anthony Rendon hit a two-run homer Friday night
to lead the Nationals to a 6-0 victory against the Padres.
In two starts against the Padres this season, he has allowed only six
hits in 17 scoreless innings, struck out 19 and walked one.
"Everything felt good coming out of my hand," he said. "Thats a plus."
The right-hander took a one-hitter into the eighth before Rene Rivera
hit a leadoff single and pinch-hitter Tommy Medica had a one-out base
hit.
Roark (4-4) beat the Padres 4-0 at Washington on April 26th, throwing a
three-hitter for his first career shutout. He struck out eight that
game, his previous career high.
Roark said the key was throwing first-pitch strikes.
"That really gets a hitter on his heels and gives you confidence," he
said. "I dont try to strike guys out. I just try to make quality
pitches. Strikeouts happen. Today everything was working."
Said manager Matt Williams: "Hes just been pitching like that for us all
year. He just continues to pound the zone, all of his pitches. Pretty
impressive."
The Nationals won their fourth straight and for the sixth time in seven
games.
"Same thing he showed over in Washington," Padres manager Bud Black said
of Roark. "Mixed his pitches, changed his speeds, commanded his
fastball a little bit different than in his start in Washington. In
Washington, he used his curveballs, more changeups."
San Diego has just 15 hits in five games. On Wednesday, Everth Cabrera
bunted for a single in the first inning for San Diegos only hit in a 3-2
victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"You have to keep going through it," Black said. "You have to keep your
nose to the grindstone and keep working. There is no magic formula to
this. You keep working, you keep busting your butt in the cage, you keep
watching video, you keep your confidence, you keep telling yourself
youre going to have good at-bats, you stay together as a team, you hang
in there in the hopes that it will turn."
Padres starter Tyson Ross (6-5) had a bad night. He walked Washingtons
Denard Span to open the game and then allowed Rendons homer to left
field, his ninth.
Rendon, the third baseman, came out after grounding out in the sixth. He
was struck in the right hand trying to field Carlos Quentins smash in
the fourth inning and committed a throwing error. He committed a
fielding error the next inning. Williams said X-rays were negative.
Ross was chased during a nightmarish four-run sixth inning in which he
had a throwing error, wild pitch, walked two, hit a batter and allowed
two hits. Ross allowed an RBI double to Wilson Ramos that bounced over
the fence in right-centre and then walked Ian Desmond to load the bases.
Ross hit Danny Espinosa on the left knee to force in a run and Nate
McClouth hit a two-run single to right to end Ross night.
Ross allowed six runs, five earned, on five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He
struck out seven and walked three.
NOTES: The Padres placed 2B Jedd Gyorko on the 15-day disabled list with
plantar fasciitis in his left foot, retroactive to Wednesday. Gyorko
has struggled after signing a $35 million, six-year contract extension
in April. Hes hitting just .162. Manager Bud Black says Gyorko had an
anti-inflammatory shot, will use a walking boot and will wear a strap
when he sleeps to keep the arch stretched out. ... LHP Eric Stults was
activated from the bereavement list. Hes scheduled to start Sunday. ...
The Padres will make two more roster moves Saturday, when RHP
Andrew Cashner (2-5, 2.35) is due to be activated from the disabled list
and start against the Nationals. Hes been out with a sore elbow. ...
The Nationals will counter Saturday night with Blake Treinen (0-2,
1.40).
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Even if he is shooting 38 per cent from the field overall this season,
the Utah Jazz rookie always feels like his final shot is going in.
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With the Canadiens leading by one to start the third period, Price
turned away 16 shots by the Panthers in the final frame to give Montreal
a 2-1 victory over Florida on Monday night.
The Panthers (16-21-6) outshot Montreal 16-10 in the final frame, but
were repeatedly frustrated by Price, who made 26 saves on the night.San
Diego, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jon Lester has reunited with Theo
Epstein.
Lester agreed to a six-year deal with the Chicago Cubs early
Wednesday
morning, according to a report.
The Cubs and Boston Red Sox were the only teams remaining in the
Lester
sweepstakes on Tuesday night after the San Francisco Giants and
the Los
Angeles Dodgers backed out, per reports.
Yahoo Sports! is reporting the pact to be for $155 million.
The 30-year-old Lester went 6-4 with a 2.35 ERA for the Oakland
Athletics
after he and outfielder Jonny Gomes were acquired in a blockbuster
trade-
deadline swap from the Red Sox for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
The southpaw went 16-11 wiith a career-best 2.
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Lester is most known for his prowess in the postseason, where he is 6-4 with
2.57 ERA in 14 career appearances, including a perfect 3-0 mark with a
sparkling 0.43 ERA in the World Series.
Lester has a 116-67 record with a 3.58 ERA over his nine-year career.
He turned down a $70 million contract extension from Boston during the spring,
the team which he helped win two World Series titles.
Epstein became the youngest general manager in MLB history when the Red Sox
hired him following the 2002 season and helped them win a pair of World Series
prior becoming the president of baseball operations for the Cubs in 2011.
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