Roark features fastball for quick start (Nats win 7-3)

MILWAUKEE - The Nationals jumped on the Brewers with a big first inning, doing most of the damage with two outs.

Adam Eaton walked and Matt Adams was hit by pitch to set the table. Juan Soto was walked by Brewers starter Freddy Peralta to load the bases.

Daniel Murphy followed with a two-run single to center field to score Eaton and Adams. Soto scored on a wild pitch from Peralta that catcher Manny Piña was unable to handle. Peralta was late to cover home plate and Soto scored standing up.

The Nats led 3-0 after one inning. They have scored first in each of the three games in the series.

Peralta struck out four Nats in the next two frames to keep them from adding on.

Nats starter Tanner Roark threw fastballs for his first 10 pitches and dispatched the Brewers 1-2-3 in the first. In the second inning, Tyler Saladino singled and made it to second on a Soto fielding error. But Roark struck out Brad Miller to end the threat.

Roark struck out the side in the third. He has five strikeouts in three frames.

After three innings, the Nats lead the Brewers 3-0.

Update: Bryce Harper crushed a line-drive three-run shot on the first pitch he saw from Peralta in the fifth. It was his 25th homer on the season. The Nats have six runs on two hits. Peralta has allowed four walks, one hit by pitch and one wild pitch during a tumultous outing. The Nats lead 6-0 mid-fifth at Miller Park.

Update II: The Brewers are saving their bullpen. They left Peralta in and Soto promptly blasted a solo homer over the right-center field wall to add on to the lead. It was his 11th homer of the season.

Mid-sixth in Milwaukee, the Nats lead 7-0 over the Brewers.

Update III: Roark finished eight shutout innings, allowing only three hits, one walk and striking out a season-high 11. He fired 106 pitches, 68 for strikes.

Update IV: In the bottom of the ninth, Hernán Pérez launched a three-run homer into the second deck in left field off of Sammy Solís. It was his seventh homer of the season.

But then Travis Shaw lined out to center field, Saladino struck out and Miller hit an infield single that was bobbled by Trea Turner.

Kelvin Herrera replaced Solís and Manny Piña lined out to third base to end the game.

Final score: Nats 7, Brewers 3.

It is Roark's first win since June 6.

It is the first time the Nats have scored seven runs on four hits or fewer in franchise history.

The Nats pull to within one game of .500 (50-51) and salvage the final game of their three-game set in Milwaukee. On to Miami Thursday for four games.