Roark uses arm, bat to carry Nationals past Phillies 8-0

Tanner Roark pitched seven sharp innings and made a rare contribution with his bat to help the surging Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-0 Saturday.

Stephen Drew and Anthony Rendon had two RBIs apiece for the first-place Nationals, who have won nine of 12 to move a season-high 14 games over .500 (38-24).

Roark (5-4) gave up six hits, struck out seven and walked one. Coming off the shortest start in his four-year career — a three-inning clunker in Cincinnati — the right-hander found his groove against the skidding Phillies.

In three starts against Philadelphia this season, Roark is 2-0 with an 0.86 ERA.

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