De Aza helps Roark's cause (Nats win 4-3)

The Nationals got on the board first against the Phillies and Aaron Nola in the first of four games Thursday night at Nats Park.

With one out in the second, Michael A. Taylor reached on a throwing error by first baseman Tommy Joseph and promptly stole second base.

With two outs, Alejandro De Aza lined a single to left field to score Taylor for a 1-0 Nationals lead.

Tanner Roark allowed a solo homer off the bat of Jorge Alfaro in the third. It was Alfaro's second homer of the season and came on a 1-1 pitch.

Through three innings, the Nats and Phillies are even at 1-1.

Update: Phillies go ahead in the fourth thanks to another home run. Tommy Joseph hit a long, high-arcing fly ball just over the left field wall and just insider the yellow foul pole at the 336 foot marker in left field to give the Phillies a 2-1 advantage.

For Joseph it was home run No. 21 and came on a 2-0 pitch from Roark, who has allowed four homers in his last two-plus starts.

Mid-fourth at Nats Park, the Phillies lead the Nats 2-1.

Update II: The Phillies are seeing Roark well. Cesár Hernández doubled with one out in the fifth. Freddy Galvis' single scored Hernandez. Odúbel Herrera then singled. But Roark then struck out two to end the threat.

Mid-fifth, the Phillies lead 3-1 over the Nats.

Update III: The Nats scored three runs on four hits in the sixth. Matt Wieters had a run-scoring double and Trea Turner added a two-run single to give the Nats the lead.

Roark lasted six innings, scatterng seven hits and allowing three runs with one walk and six strikeouts. He fired 100 pitches, 64 for strikes.

After six innings, the Nats lead the Phillies 4-3.

Update IV: Top prospect Victor Robles made his major league debut in the seventh with a pinch-hit appearance. He flew out to right field and got a nice ovation from the Nats Park faithful as he came off the field.

After seven innings, the Nats lead the Phillies 4-3.

Update V: Sean Doolittle pitched the ninth for the Nats. He induced a pair of outfield fly outs. Andrés Blanco struck out looking to end the game. It marks Doolittle's 19th save of the season. He is 16-for-16 in save opportunities with the Nats.

Final Score: Nats 4, Phillies 3.