Daily Recap: 4/26/2014: Nationals 4, Padres 0

Coming into 2014, Tanner Roark had only 53 2/3 innings pitched under his belt. He had only started five career Major League games. However, he went 7-1 with a 1.51 ERA last season, showing that he could truly pitch for the Nationals. So, they decided to give him a starting role this season. Coming into yesterday's game, Roark was decent. He posted a 3.80 ERA in 23 2/3 innings pitched. His last start, against the Angels, Roark showed flashes of greatness. He struck out five over six and two-thirds shutout innings. He carried that momentum into his start against the Padres. 

On the hill for San Diego was Andrew Cashner, who has had his share of great outings so far this season. However, the Nationals got to him early. Adam LaRoche singled to right field, scoring Anthony Rendon. Ian Desmond doubled to right as well, scoring Jayson Werth. And Danny Espinosa hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Adam LaRoche. On the opposite side of the ball, Roark was brilliant. He tossed five and one-third innings of perfect ball, striking out five. Although he lost both the perfect game and no-hitter on Rene Rivera's single to center field, Roark was still able to "settle" for a shutout, the first of his career. He struck out eight hitters, walked one, and allowed three hits over nine beautiful frames. 

Ian Desmond led the Nationals with three hits, including his single in the first that drove in a run. For the Padres, Chris Denorfia, Jedd Gyorko, and Rene Rivera were the only players that tallied a hit off of Roark. Cashner pitched six innings for the Padres, allowing four runs on nine hits, while striking out five and walking only one. 

Nationals 4, Padres 0