Burnett continues to baffle Nats (Phillies win 3-1)

Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark allowed two earned runs in a tough 3-2 loss to right-hander A.J. Burnett and the Phillies on Aug. 25.

In their rematch Saturday, it took the Phillies only three innings before they connected for two earned runs.

With one out in the third, Burnett singled. With two outs, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley singled to load the bases.

Ryan Howard smacked a base hit through the infield, scoring two runs, and the Phillies led 2-0.

The Nationals enjoyed only a single from Anthony Rendon over the first two innings against Burnett, who had 12 strikeouts against them last Monday.

The Phillies lead 2-0 heading to the bottom of the third.

Update: Roark has gotten into a nice groove with five strikeouts in his last eight batters. Problem is - and this was the problem for Roark last Monday - he is facing Burnett. The veteran hurler for the Phillies, making his 400th career start, kept the Nationals off the board for the first four innings.

That changed in the fifth. Asdrubal Cabrera singled to start a rally. Span singled later. Anthony Rendon slapped a long fly ball to center field that was caught for a sac fly, and the Nationals trimmed the lead to 2-1.

Update II: All or nothing right now for Roark. After striking out four consecutive hitters, Domininc Brown tattooed a 3-0 offering into the right field bullpen and the Phillies led 3-1.

Update III: Roark finished six innings, allowing three runs on six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts. It is the third start this season Roark has had eight strikeouts or more in an outing. He twirled 90 pitches, 59 for strikes.

Update IV: It's a 3-1 final in D.C.