The Washington Nationals swept the season-opening three-game series from the New York Mets with an 8-2 win this afternoon in Citi Field. Tanner Roark got the call to start late when Jordan Zimmermann was scratched and came through with a strong outing.
The Washington Nationals took the season-opener and last night's game in Citi Field from the New York Mets, setting themselves up for a series sweep this afternoon. Jordan Zimmermann was scheduled to start, but the 27-year-old right-hander was scratched with flu-like symptons, so the Nats turned to Tanner Roark, who was originally scheduled to start the home opener with Atlanta on Friday afternoon.
The Mets jumped out to a 2-0 lead early as a missed pop in the outfield and three hits off Roark resulted in the home team getting ahead, but the Nationals battled back with Ryan Zimmerman homering in the second to cut the Mets' lead in half, 2-1.
Nationals' catcher Sandy Leon walked to start the fifth inning, took second on a sac bunt by Roark and scored on an RBI single to right by Denard Span, who was 1 for 2 with a walk today after the hit. 2-2 game. Span took second on Curtis Granderson's throw home trying for Leon, took third on a fly to right by Bryce Harper, then scored on a two-out hit to right by Jayson Werth as the Nats took a 3-2 lead in the fifth.
After a long 31-pitch first, Roark threw just 49 pitches over the next four innings, holding the Mets off the board as the Nationals rallied to take the lead. Roark struck the side out in the sixth, leaving him at 95 pitches overall.
The Nationals added to their lead with a four-run seventh, scored a run in the eighth and completed the sweep of the season-opening series with the Mets. 8-2 final.
Nationals now 3-0