Rocky start for Roark (Nats take 3-2 lead)

Perhaps it was the lack of mental preparation that came with last-second notice that he'd be starting today, but Tanner Roark's first inning was one he'd rather forget. The Nationals right-hander allowed two runs on three hits, a walk and a sac fly in the first inning to put the team in an early 2-0 hole. Daniel Murphy started the rally with a one-out single before David Wright singled on a lazy pop fly that center fielder Denard Span lost in the sun. Curtis Granderson followed with an RBI double to right, scoring Murphy. Lucas Duda walked to put runners on the corners and Wright then scored on a Juan Lagares sac fly. In all, Roark finished with 31 pitches, 26 for strikes, in that first frame. Update: The Nats responded by halving the Mets' lead to 2-1 when Ryan Zimmerman homered off Zack Wheeler to lead off the second. It was Zimmerman's first homer and first RBI of the young season. Roark did the best thing a pitcher can do when his team gives him support - put up a zero the next half-inning. The Nats starter needed just eight pitches, six for strikes, to get through the second. Ruben Tejada led off the frame with a single before Roark sat down the next three Mets in order. Update II: These Nats sure seem like a resilient bunch early on, don't they? Washington just claimed its first lead, 3-2, with two runs in the fifth on a walk, two hits and a Roark sac bunt. Span tied the game with a one-out single to right, advancing to second on the throw. He then moved up to third on a fly out before scoring on Jayson Werth's go-ahead RBI single to right. Roark has now tossed four scoreless frames since allowing two runs in the first, giving the Nats that chance to come back.