Roark worked on not tipping pitches in 4-1 win vs. Marlins

MIAMI - Right-hander Tanner Roark was 0-3 with an 8.40 ERA in three starts against the Marlins this season.

His worst start of the season came just six days ago in D.C., when he allowed seven runs on eight hits in five innings against these same Marlins.

But Friday in Miami was just the opposite.

Inducing weak contact and holding the Marlins to just one run, Roark turned Miami into every other opponent he has faced this season, delivering 6 2/3 strong innings in a 4-1 win at Marlins Park.

It was his first win over the Marlins since July 30, 2014.

How was Roark able to adjust so quickly?

During pregame, manager Dusty Baker said he was concerned that Marlins hitting coach and home run leader Barry Bonds had picked up what Roark was going to throw with each pitch.

"He was aggressive," Baker said after the game. "He was coming right at them. He was getting strike one for the most part, and he was keeping them off balance.

"He threw some good sliders and some pretty good change-ups, other than the change-up for the home run, which was a good pitch, just a good piece of hitting by (Marcell) Ozuna over there."

Roark worked on not tipping his pitches during the game Friday night, and with different results.

"It was a thought so I mixed it up a little bit, the game within the game," Roark said afterwards. "It was a little minor adjustment that I did and it worked.

"We looked at video and made sure. I would do certain things on certain pitches and I made an adjustment, worked out."

Television replays appeared to show Roark wiggling his glove between pitches, to make sure the opposition could not see the grip he was going to use on his next offering.

Was he worried that if he adjusted his grip by wiggling his glove, that could distract his overall mechanics?

"It can ... because you think you're focusing on more of the adjustment than making your pitch but it felt fine, it felt good," Roark said. "Felt right, that's the biggest part."

The best example of Roark's control was what he was able to accomplish against the Marlins' historically good power hitters Christian Yelich and Giancarlo Stanton.

The duo combined to go 0-for-6 with two strikeouts and four infield groundouts. Although Stanton has been in a well-publicized slump, it was impressive for Roark considering all the problems he had against the Marlins earlier this season.

Plus, with the team arriving at four a.m. Friday morning, Roark provided the long start that the road-weary Nationals needed following a solid two wins in a row at New York.

The Nationals' offense helped set the tone early for Roark, with a solo homer from Ryan Zimmerman and a two-run shot by Michael A. Taylor, plus a run-scoring double by Wilson Ramos, all in the second inning.

Zimmerman said Roark didn't change much from Saturday's setback, but he did pitch in better luck this game.

"Last time they had some broken bat singles and things like that," Zimmerman said. "They are good hitters so they're going to get those hits. When you give up three or four of those in a start it's tough to rebound every time.

"But Tanner's so consistent he just goes out there and pounds the zone and challenges people. Tonight was no different than what he usually does."

Roark got out of a two men on, two-out situation in the second by striking out Adeiny Hechavarria.

"It was definitely big, we jumped on top early and made it a lot easier to make good pitches and it takes a lot of weight off your shoulders," Roark said. "At that point, just got to execute and not try to do too much."

Saturday night's game will be broadcast nationally on FOX.