Roark and Simon in rematch of May 21 battle (Nats win 4-1)

The Nationals managed only a Denard Span home run in their last meeting with Reds right-hander Alfredo Simon. In the first inning Friday night, the Nationals managed an Anthony Rendon single and Jayson Werth was hit by a pitch. With one out, the Nationals had men on first and second. But Adam LaRoche struck out and Ian Desmond grounded out to second. But at least they made Simon work in that first inning. Simon, who had been a reliever for most of his career, is starting exclusively this season for the Reds. He tossed 20 pitches, 14 for strikes in the first inning. Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark allowed one earned run as well in that first meeting with the Reds on May 21. He was able to set down the Reds 1-2-3 in the first inning. No score after one frame at the Great American Ball Park. Update: Roark is off to a terrific start in Cincinnati, having retired all nine batters he has faced through three innings. He has struck out two and walked none while throwing 37 pitches, 21 for strikes. The game is scoreless heading to the fourth. Update II: The Nats struck first in Cincinnati, scoring three runs on five hits in the fourth inning for a 3-0 lead. Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos started the frame with singles before Zach Walters hit an RBI double to right. Roark struck out and with one down, Span increased the Nats' lead with an RBI single to right. Span was caught in a rundown on the play, frozen between first and second. Rendon followed with a two-out RBI single to left to give the Nats a three-run advantage. Simon got Werth to line out to right to end the inning. The Reds right-hander has allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk in four innings. He has struck out three while throwing 79 pitches, 54 for strikes. Update III: The Reds got one back in the fourth. Billy Hamilton singled and stole second. Two outs later, Ryan Ludwick contributed an infield single to score Hamilton, and the Nationals lead 3-1. The Nats then chased Simon in the fifth after Adam LaRoche doubled and Harper walked two batters later with one out. Washington didn't add a run off right-hander J.J. Hoover, closing up Simon's line at three earned runs on nine hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. Update IV: The Nationals added another run in the sixth off Hoover. Span's third hit in a row got it started with one away. Rendon walked. LaRoche smacked a run-scoring single that scored Span from second and the Nationals lead 4-1. The Nationals have left 10 men on through six innings. Also, the Nationals have recorded 10 or more hits for the eighth consecutive game, matching a franchise record set in May 2005. Update V: Roark is done after his third straight outing of exactly one earned run in seven innings. He held the Reds to three hits, walked one and struck out six. His night is over after 94 pitches, 57 strikes, and he's in line for his third straight win. The Nats continue to hold a 4-1 lead in the eighth. Oh, and Span now has four hits. The Reds have three as a team. Update VI: Tyler Clippard pitched a perfect eighth before Rafael Soriano tossed a scoreless ninth for his 24th save of the year and 199th of his career. The Nats' three-run fourth proved to be more than enough to back up Roark, who earned his third straight win to improve to 10-6. He becomes the first Nationals pitcher to reach double digits in wins this year. Roark has allowed three runs in 21 innings (1.29 ERA) over his last three starts, lowering his season ERA from 3.12 to 2.82. Span led the offense with his second straight four-hit game. He is 8-for-10 over the last two contests to elevate his average to .289. Rendon and LaRoche each added two hits and an RBI while Ramos had two hits. The Nats earned their fifth win in six games to up their record to 56-44 and ensure they'll remain alone atop the National League East at the end of the night.