Roark’s strikeouts part of an afternoon of strong pitching

4:51 PM ET

A 15-strikeout outing by Tanner Roark, a debut by Blake Snell that recalled something last done in the Bronx more than 50 years ago and a possible early end to Corey Kluber’s April woes were among the highlights of Saturday afternoon’s major league action.

Stats & Info reviews the most noteworthy performances on the mound.

Career high for Roark

Roark’s career high for strikeouts was 11, done in 2014 against the San Diego Padres. He matched that with the first batter of the fifth inning, getting catcher Kurt Suzuki swinging, and he exceeded it when he got the next batter, pitcher Phil Hughes, looking.

ESPN Stats & Information

Roark lasted seven innings. The 15 strikeouts are the most by a Nationals pitcher since Max Scherzer struck out 17 in his no-hitter against the New York Mets last October. Roark is the first in Nationals franchise history to strike out 15 or more batters in fewer than nine innings.

Six of Roark’s strikeouts came on soft stuff (changeups, curveballs and sliders), two more than his previous high for a …

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