Roark, Murphy sharp in first game back (Nats win 4-1)

NATIONALS QUICK WRAP

Score: Nationals 4, Astros 1

Recap: In his first start since returning from the World Baseball Classic, Tanner Roark was exceptionally sharp. The right-hander carried a shutout into the sixth inning before allowing back-to-back hits and departing with one run across the plate, having thrown 71 pitches. Daniel Murphy, his Team USA mate, went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in his first game back from the WBC. Ryan Zimmerman had two hits, a stolen base and a nifty move to elude a seemingly sure out at the plate.

Need to know: After opening his spring in a 2-for-20 slump, Matt Wieters went 2-for-3. ... Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon were hit by Lance McCullers pitches in succession in the top of the third. Moments later, McCullers came up and in on Jayson Werth and nearly buzzed him. ... Blake Treinen got the final two outs for the save.

On deck: Sunday, vs. Astros at West Palm Beach, 1:05 p.m.
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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - So much for having any reason to worry Tanner Roark and Daniel Murphy would come back from the World Baseball Classic cold and needing a lot of time to get back into regular season form.

Roark and Murphy each returned to the Nationals lineup today and showed no ill effects whatsoever from their 2 1/2-week sabbatical playing for Team USA.

Roark tossed 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run and three hits (two of them in his final frame) in an impressive start against the Astros. The right-hander threw 71 pitches, issuing zero walks in an efficient performance reminiscent of his Tuesday night outing against Japan that propelled the U.S. into the WBC championship game.

Pitching on only three days' rest, Roark had a couple of moments of shaky command, hitting two batters with pitches. But those were mere blips on an otherwise sharp afternoon in which he struck out five and retired 13 straight batters at one point.

Roark still trails the rest of his rotation mates a bit in stamina, but he's not too far behind now. After throwing 71 pitches today, he should be fine to build up to 85 in his next outing, with perhaps one other opportunity for him to throw before taking the mound in the regular season.

Murphy, meanwhile, figured to be rusty in his first game with the Nationals in 20 days, especially after he received only 13 at-bats in the interim while playing for Team USA, with only six of those coming in actual WBC games.

The veteran second baseman, though, looked very much like his regular self. He did strike out twice, but also singled to left and roped a two-run double down the right field line, leaving him 2-for-4 on the afternoon.

Murphy played five innings in the field and made clean plays on the only two balls hit in his direction.