Pitching Gem of the Weekend


A tip of the cap -- one with the Curly W -- to Nationals righthander Tanner Roark for the weekend's best pitching performance. In just his second major league season, the Wilmington, Illinois product fired a masterful three-hit shutout Saturday night, as Washington silenced the Padres 4 - 0. In just his 10th big league start, Roark retired the first 16 batters he faced, struck out eight and walked just one batter. These images came from his March 3rd start in Spring Training against the Yankees.
It's been a long road to the majors for a one-time 25th round draft choice of the Rangers, who was traded to Nats organization two years later. As recently as 2012, he struggled to a 6 - 17 record at Syracuse. Then last year, it all came together for Roark, who was 9 - 3 at Triple A (in action below on July 4th) before being recalled by Washington. And if the first month of 2014 is any indication, he won't be back in the minors anytime soon. 

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