Roark delivers eight strong innings, Nats drop Pirates 6-0

The same script repeated itself in the first two games of the series between the Nationals and Pirates at Nationals Park.

A Nats starter went at least eight innings. The Nats scored at least five runs, including a homer. The Pirates committed defensive mistakes.

The Nats won the series Saturday night in a rain-delayed 6-0 defeat of Pittsburgh. Tanner Roark (9-5) went eight innings plus two batters, allowing five hits.

Blake Treinen notched three outs in the ninth.

The Nats have won five in a row and are 20 games above .500 at 56-36.

On Friday night, the Nationals dropped the Pirates 5-1 behind eight strong innings from Stephen Strasburg.

The Nationals were able to start their offense early against Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole on Saturday night.

In his career, the opposition has been able to get to Cole early in games. In 85 starts prior to Saturday, Cole has allowed 45 runs in those 85 innings for a 4.13 ERA.

The Nats managed to score in the first inning thanks to a one-out walk to Jayson Werth and back-to-back singles by Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon.

Rendon's RBI single made it 1-0 Nats. It was his 34th RBI of the season.

The rally could have been more lethal if Harper wasn't thrown out at third, or if Pirates right fielder Sean Rodriguez didn't rob Clint Robinson of extra bases with a diving catch in right-center.

In the second, Cole has usually been able to settle down to the tune of a 1.80 ERA in 85 games. But the Nats bucked that trend. In innings one through three, Cole's ERA is 2.73.

The Nats added back-to-back doubles in the second from Stephen Drew and Danny Espinosa for a 2-0 lead in the second.

The offense erupted in the fourth. Roark provided a run-scoring single to plate Robinson. Josh Harrison's throw got past the first baseman, allowing Drew to score, making it 4-0 Nats. Ben Revere's fielder's choice scored Espinosa, who has raced home twice in this series with aggressive baserunning. The Nats led 5-0.

Rendon slammed a solo homer in the fifth, his 10th of the season, extending the lead to 6-0.

Drew finished with three doubles and two runs scored.

The game was delayed for 71 minutes due to inclement weather. First pitch was 8:16 p.m.