Roark on erratic first inning: "Couldn't locate, it's as simple as that"

The Nationals hoped a return to their home field would jumpstart a weary bunch after a tough nine-game road trip ended Tuesday in Baltimore.

On the mound was right-hander Tanner Roark, who had worked at least seven innings in 11 of his previous 16 starts. But Roark was not his usual reliant self on Wednesday night.

Roark allowed four runs in the first inning, including a two-run shot from Manny Machado. The Orioles bookended that inning with five runs in the eighth en route to a 10-8 win over the Nationals.

Manager Dusty Baker had lauded Roark before the game for his ability to last deep into games, usually to the tune of seven full innings. But on this night, Roark allowed six of the first seven batters he faced to reach base.

"It can happen to anybody," Baker said. "It can happen, even to a workhorse. Thing was, he wasn't sharp. He hit a batter and then hit (Matt) Wieters to force in a run. They were jumping on his fastball early. These guys, they can hit. We knew that coming in here.

"I think we matched them or better in hits, but they got some key two-out base hits, and that was the difference in the game. Manny Machado was a handful today, too. Right away, boom, he gave them a 2-0 lead."

Roark lasted just five innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. The most telling statistic of his line was three hit batters. He had only eight hit batmen in 660 previous plate appearances.

"Couldn't locate, it's as simple as that. I was trying to go inside to get them off the plate and make them feel uncomfortable. That's how I pitch," Roark said. "Hitting guys, clipping guys, obviously not my best outing. But what I love is we came back and came pretty darn close to tying it up and possibly winning it. So I'm proud of these guys that fought. They were never out of it."

Roark said the hit by pitches were not because he lacked control, but more of a product of strategy, attempting to prevent opposing batters from extending their arms.

"Just lack of focus, maybe," Roark said. "But I know I needed to get inside on these guys and make them feel uncomfortable at the plate. They have the most home runs in all of baseball, so you got to make it known that your going to come inside. That's the name of the game for pitching and as a starter you have to establish inside and just hit guys."

Roark threw 111 pitches, 59 for strikes. The first inning started off poorly courtesy of a two-run homer by Machado. The Orioles third baseman added a run-scoring single in the second. He was responsible for three RBIs out of the first five Orioles runs.

"He can hit the ball all over the field," Roark said. "He's a good hitter. Like any good hitter, you got to make him feel uncomfortable. I didn't do that the first two at-bats. After that, I went in and made sure I got it in and not hit the guy. You just got to make them feel uncomfortable and let them know you are willing to go inside at any point in any count."

It was an unusual night for Roark. He had gotten into trouble before, allowing a 3.96 ERA in the first and second innings, but not usually to the point of yielding five runs. It was the first time in six starts that he had allowed more than three runs. In all of those starts, he lasted at least 6 1/3 innings.

Maybe it's the Orioles. Roark is now 0-3 with a 6.88 ERA in four games (three starts) against Baltimore in his career.

First baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who ended the game on a 4-6-3 double play, believes it was just an off night for Roark. He felt Roark could not locate pitches in the first that he usually was able to control. But Roark did bounce back to throw three scoreless innings after the first two difficult frames.

"He's usually obviously not as erratic as he was tonight," Zimmerman said. "He can't be great every single time. But he did battle. He got through five innings with stuff that he was kind of all over the place and kept us in the game for five innings. That's kind of typical of Tanner. Even when he doesn't have his good stuff, he battles and keeps us in the game. That was good to see him do that."