Roark "felt good" in last spring start, but knows he can do better

Right-hander Tanner Roark pitched four innings Friday night in his final tune-up before the regular season begins Monday. The Nationals topped the Twins 4-3 in an exhibition at Nationals Park.

Roark allowed three runs on seven hits, with four of those being doubles. He walked none and struck out four. He tossed 69 pitches, 44 for strikes.

Roark said the start "felt good," but he also saw some things he could refine before his first scheduled regular season start.

"Just didn't stick to my fastball for the most part and got a little off speed happy, I guess you could say," Roark said. "I wasn't making them uncomfortable. I was letting them stay comfortable in the box and not moving their feet. My stuff towards the fourth inning wasn't the sharpest."

Roark allowed a double to Joe Mauer in the first but got out of the inning. In the third, the Twins had men on second and third thanks to a double by Brian Dozier. But Roark got out of that jam by inducing a Mauer flyout and striking out Miguel Sano.

The Twins scored all three runs in the fourth, thanks to an Eddie Rosario run-scoring single and a Eduardo Escobar two-run double.

Two years ago Roark won a career-high 15 games for the Nationals. Last season, he bounced from the 'pen to the rotation and back, and never was able to get into a consistent rhythm for long stretches, falling to 4-7 with a 4.38 ERA. He made 31 starts in 2014, and only 12 last season.

Does he feel starting the season in the rotation this year will help him get back to that 2014 level?

"I'm going to do my best," Roark said. "I'm going to do whatever helps the team. I feel confident coming in - ready to play, ready to go for this season. We got a great ballclub and we got a great pitching staff and it's exciting to be a part of."

Roark has been impressed with new pitching coach Mike Maddux and his focus on the mental side of the game.

"He's very vocal in the mental part of the game, which is 90 percent of this game," Roark said. "It's a long season, 162-plus games. He wants you to be locked in for every single pitch. Don't take a pitch off. He's very mental and it helps out a lot."

With the first week showing two off-days, Roark's first start will be delayed for awhile. Will he pitch extra bullpens or a simulated games in the interim to stay fresh?

No, said Roark. Instead, maintaining a constant workout regimen to keep loose is his plan until he is handed the ball for his first start.

"Work, work out, don't take days off. Just like in the regular season," Roark said. "Nothing you can do about it. You just got to do what you do and go out there and still work hard. Not slip by and say I'll do it the next day or something like that. You got to keep on top of things.

"I'm a firm believer in hard work pays off. I know if I slack off here or there than I know it will come back and bite me. Might as well not even do that."