Nationals set tone early again, win 2-0 (Roark fans career-high 15)

The Nationals get some runs early for their starter again.

Facing Twins right-hander Phil Hughes, the Nationals scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first. Last time Hughes pitched at Nationals Park, he allowed one run over six innings for a Yankees 7-2 victory in 2012.

But this time, Anthony Rendon had a one-out single followed by a line-drive double down the right field line for Bryce Harper.

Ryan Zimmerman then delivered a single to center that scored two runs and the Nationals jumped out to a 2-0 lead.

Right-hander Tanner Roark allowed two baserunners on a single and a walk in the first, but survived unscathed. He also struck out the side in the second, allowing only a Max Kepler double.

Heading to the bottom of the second, the Nationals lead 2-0.

Update: Roark is on a personal-best run of strikeouts. Through four innings, he already had racked up 10 strikeouts, including striking out the side in the fourth. His career high was 11 strikeouts at San Diego on June 6, 2014.

He earned his 11th strikeout to begin the fifth inning, that on former Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki. His new career-high 12th strikeout was next, that of Hughes. He has struck out 12 of the first 14 batters faced.

Update II: Roark struck out Miguel Sano and Oswaldo Arcia in the sixth, both for the second time in the game. His career mark is now 14 strikeouts through six frames. The Expos/Nationals franchise record is 18 strikeouts in a game.

Update III: Roark finishes with seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits, three walks and a career-high 15 strikeouts. He fired 121 pitches, 78 for strikes. He finishes just one strikeout shy of Max Scherzer's team record of 16 strikeouts.

Update IV: Blake Treinen and Oliver Perez fired a scoreless eighth. Jonathan Papelbon came on in the ninth for his seventh save.

The Nationals recorded 18 strikeouts as a team, which sets a new club record since the team arrived in D.C., in 2005. It ties the Expos/Nationals franchise record of 18 strikeouts.

Roark is now 2-2. The Nationals are 13-4.