Tanner Roark shows grit in lifting Nats past Giants

With all the drama surrounding Jonathan Papelbon being pulled from the ninth inning last night, it is important to remember what starter Tanner Roark did to get the Nationals in position to win the game.

Roark went seven innings and allowed one run and four hits with three walks and three strikeouts for his 10th victory of the season.

He now has gone seven innings or more and allowed one earned run or less in eight starts this season, tied for second-most in the majors. He has won at least 10 games in two of the last three seasons. It was the 12th time this season Roark had lasted seven innings, including six of his last seven starts.

The manner with which he kept the Giants out of a big inning also was impressive.

His best bounceback came in the second inning. Staked to a 3-0 lead, Roark allowed a Buster Posey double to lead off the frame. He then walked Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt.

With the bases loaded, Roark got to work.

He stuck out Mac Williamson on a 93.8 mph two-seam fastball. One out.

Conor Gillaspie grounded to Ryan Zimmerman at first. Zimmerman elected to step on the bag for the easy out, which allowed a run to score. Two outs and a 3-1 Nats lead.

Then, facing pitcher Johnny Cueto, he induced a inning-ending flyout to right.

He allowed just one run in the second. This after the bases were loaded and there were no outs. If Zimmerman had chosen to throw home, he might have allowed no runs in the frame. Very impressive grit displayed by Roark to get through a very tough spot that could have changed the tenor of the game quickly.

The middle of the order challenged Roark in the fourth. Crawford tripled with one out. Roark then got Belt looking on a spectacular two-seamer, after he had mixed in his curveball and changeup during the at-bat. Crawford was caught off third by catcher Wilson Ramos. A Giants threat was extinguished again.

How important is Roark to the Nats' success?

The fact that manager Dusty Baker trusts him in a relief role like he did against the Mets before the All-Star break demonstrates how critical Roark could be to winning in playoff games. In a time where there are questions about the closer role for the Nats, Roark can provide a bridge to the end of the game as a starter or in a must-win game as a reliever.

Roark is now 10-6 with a 2.96 ERA. In his breakout season of 2014, Roark went 15-10 with a 2.85 ERA. He's on track for another record-setting performance, just what the Nats need to win the division again.