WASHINGTON (AP) — Tanner Roark struck out a career-high 15 and allowed only two hits over seven innings in a dominating performance that carried the Washington Nationals past the Minnesota Twins 2-0 Saturday.

Roark and a trio of relievers combined to fan 18, the most by Washington since its arrival from Montreal in 2005.

Roark (2-2) twice struck out the side and fanned at least two strikeouts in four other innings. It was only the second time in 52 career starts that the right-hander reached double digits in strikeouts — the other was on July 6, 2014, when he fanned 11 at San Diego.

Jonathan Papelbon got three outs to complete the combined two-hitter and earn his seventh save.

Ryan Zimmerman drove in two runs and Bryce Harper had a pair of doubles for the Nationals, whose 13-4 start under new manager Dusty Baker matches the 1981 Expos and 2012 Nats for the best in franchise history.

Phil Hughes (1-3) took the loss.

 

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