After another poor start, Roark searches for answers

MIAMI - Tanner Roark thought he had solved his problems a few weeks ago, when he emerged from a rough stretch to begin the season with three consecutive dominant starts.

Now the Nationals right-hander finds himself right back where he started, still searching for answers after a third consecutive subpar outing.

At this point, Roark is getting pretty mad. At himself.

"My body felt good. My arm felt good," he said. "I just need to stop pitching like crap."

Monday night's 8-7 loss to the Marlins might well have been a low point for Roark. Handed a 6-0 lead in the third inning, he proceeded to give it all back before recording three outs, done in by a series of hits, walks and one big blow (a grand slam to Justin Bour).

By the time Dusty Baker finally pulled him, Roark had thrown 44 pitches in the inning.

After his last start, the right-hander said he believed a slight mechanical tweak (driving more towards the plate upon delivery) would be the answer for his woes. It didn't work Monday night, though, even though Roark's velocity was up; he topped out at 97 mph, a new career-high.

"I've been messing with my mechanics the whole year," he said. "I said last time I wasn't driving towards the plate. Now I feel like my arm's not catching up."

Roark paused to sigh before continuing his answer.

"I felt great. I still feel great. I'm pissed off. You get a six-run lead and you give it up. That's pathetic on my part."

Fifteen starts into his season, Roark now owns a 4.88 ERA. The only time that number has ever been higher in his major league career was a three-outing stretch in August 2015, when he was pitching out of the bullpen.

This isn't the kind of challenge Roark has been forced to overcome in the big leagues. But he can go farther back into his career to find evidence of his ability to bounce back from adversity.

This is, after all, a guy who had a 21.41 ERA in independent ball way back in 2008, not to mention a 6-17 record at Triple-A in 2012 before hitting it big.

Roark tries to remember what he has overcome in the past, hoping that can help lift his spirits as he tries to overcome an entirely new challenge now.

"I think I can, for sure," he said. "The game's testing me. I've got to keep trusting myself and have confidence and not let myself deteriorate or my mind deteriorate. I'm going to hold onto this one for a little bit. And then by this time tomorrow, it's got to go. I'm going to work hard to get back to where I need to be."