Phillies jump out to early lead (Nats lose 7-2)

The Nationals were retired in order by A.J. Burnett in the first before watching the Phillies take an early lead on a three-run home run off the bat of Ryan Howard. After pitching his best outing in his last start, right-hander Tanner Roark is struggling early in Philadelphia. He retired Tony Gwynn Jr., but allowed a single to Jimmy Rollins, who then stole second base. Chase Utley walked, bringing Howard to the plate. He crushed an 0-1 pitch over the wall in left-center field, giving the Phillies a 3-0 lead. Roark settled down after allowing the homer, striking out Marlon Byrd and getting Domonic Brown to fly out to Denard Span. Update: The Phillies added another run in the second, courtesy of Cody Asche's solo shot dumped into the right field seats. The home team has a 4-0 lead, headed to the third. Update II: Roark's night is done after four-plus innings. He surrendered five runs so far and is responsible for two runners on base. He threw 85 pitches and gave up two home runs. Ryan Mattheus enters the game with runners on the corners and no outs in the fifth. Roark's final line: Well, that complete-game shutout is in the past. Roark struggled mightily against the Phillies tonight, giving up seven runs (two of which were inherited by Mattheus) over four-plus innings. He gave up seven hits and allowed a walk while striking out five. After five innings, the Phillies have a 7-0 lead, presenting a huge challenge for the Nationals as they look to come back and take the series in Philadelphia. Update III: Adam LaRoche got the Nats on the board in the sixth, smacking a solo shot down the right field line. Nats trail 7-1 as the rain begins to fall in Philly. Stay tuned... It's raining: With rain falling hard at Citizens Bank Park, the grounds crew put the tarp on the field before the start of the seventh inning. We are officially in a rain delay. Update IV: Play has resumed in the seventh inning after a brief rain delay, long enough for A.J. Burnett's night to end. Zach Walters pinch hit in the seventh and smacked a homer to trim the Phillies' lead to 7-2. Walters has three hits this season. Each one is a home run. Update V: Both of the Nats' runs tonight came on home runs. Despite homers from LaRoche and Walters, the Nationals were unable to overcome an early deficit. Roark lasted just four-plus innings and took the loss. He's now 2-1 with a 4.17 ERA on the season. Gio Gonzalez, 3-1, 3.25 ERA, will take the mound tomorrow as the Nats look to take the series at Citizens Bank Park. Coverage begins at 2:30 p.m. on MASN HD.