etch after starting 6-1. They finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row.---Follow Paul etch after starting 6-1. They finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row.---Follow Paul | Forum

PHILADELPHIA -- Tanner Roark wont fly under the radar the way hes pitching. Rasmus Ristolainen Jersey .Roark threw seven impressive innings, Jayson Werth hit a solo homer and the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-0 on Monday night.Roark (14-7) allowed four singles and struck out five. Marc Rzepczynski tossed a perfect eighth and Mark Melancon finished off the four-hitter.It would be fine if people dont notice because maybe he can surprise some people, Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. I dont think he really cares. He just wants the victories.The wins are piling up for Roark, who went from winning 15 games in 2014 to pitching in relief last year. Hes more focused on helping the NL East-leading Nationals win the division.August is a grinder month, Roark said. Everybody has to stay locked in. We all have bumps and bruises but we have to keep going.Phillies rookie Jake Thompson (1-4) allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings. It was the longest and best of his five career starts.Werth lined a solo shot to left in the first against his former team. It was his third homer in four games. A member of Philadelphias 2008 World Series championship team, Werth was greeted by boos, as usual.Home runs come in streaks. When you start hitting a couple, you think about it, Baker said. I knew he was locked in watching him in BP. He was hitting them out and keeping them low.Bryce Harper raced home from first on Anthony Rendons single to left-center to make it 2-0 in the first. Clint Robinson and Trea Turner had RBI singles off Frank Herrmann in the ninth.Thompson settled in nicely after a rough start. His last pitch was a nasty curve that froze Turner for strike three.It was night and day from my performance in the first four (starts), Thompson said. Its kind of a relief. It feels a lot better.Roark didnt need much support. The righty stifled the Phillies again. Hes 3-0 with a 0.64 ERA against them this season.The Nationals snapped a two-game losing streak. They have a nine-game lead over the Marlins and Mets.DIVISION DOMINANCEWashington is 36-16 against the rest of the NL East. Its the best division record in the majors.ROSTER MOVESOF Michael A. Taylor was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse by the Nationals. RHP Lucas Giolito was optioned down.ODUBEL ON THE MOVEPhillies All-Star CF Odubel Herrera will likely play a corner outfield spot in winter ball. Manager Pete Mackanin has been impressed with Aaron Altherr in center and prospect Roman Quinn also plays there.TRAINERS ROOMNationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg threw a bullpen session one week after he was placed on the DL with elbow soreness. Strasburg is expected to return to the rotation when hes eligible.UP NEXTRHP Max Scherzer (14-7) starts for the Nationals against RHP Jerad Eickhoff (9-12) on Tuesday night. Scherzer is 6-1 against the Phillies in nine career starts. Eickhoff had 10 strikeouts in his only career start vs. Washington on Sept. 25, 2015. Zach Bogosian Jersey . The judges scored it 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 for Jones (19-1). It was the champions closest call. Despite the loss, it was a remarkable show by the confident Swedish challenger, who had the best of the early rounds and then hung on in the fourth and fifth. Dominik Hasek Jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.officialsabresfanstore.com/customized/ . According to a report from the Winnipeg Free Press, the Bombers will name Acting GM Kyle Walters to the post full time. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons returned to practice Wednesday tied for the lead in the NFC South and all banged-up for the final month of the regular season.Coming off a disheartening loss to Kansas City, the Falcons (7-5) hit the field without top receiver Julio Jones and two other starters who were injured against the Chiefs.Jones is bothered by turf toe, left tackle Jake Matthews has a knee problem, and receiver Mohamed Sanu is slowed by a sore groin.On top of that, defensive end Adrian Clayborn is definitely out for Sundays game against the Los Angeles Rams and will likely miss several more weeks with a knee injury -- if he returns at all this season. The Falcons already lost their best defender, cornerback Desmond Trufant, to a season-ending pectoral injury.Thats the important part of having depth, coach Dan Quinn said. If youre called upon, youre here for a reason.Quinn said hes hopeful Jones, who has battled nagging injuries all season, will be able to practice Thursday and play against the Rams. Since a broken foot cost him most of the 2013 season, the receiver has missed only one game.Hes somebody that does a good job taking care of his body, Quinn said. He has a real ability to push it to get back. I know if hes able to, he certainly will.Even though turf toe is a painful condition that can lead to major issues, the coach stressed he doesnt think Jones case is that serious.This is something hes going to respond to quickly, the coach said. Its not a long-term thing hes going to be dealing with.As for Matthews and Sanu, Quinn said he would monitor their condition through the rest of the week and hopes they will be able to play against the Rams (4-8).Matthews went out in the first half of last weeks game. The trainers put a sleeve over his left knee, and he went through some running and cutting drills on the sideline to test it out.But Matthews headed to the locker room before halftime and didnt return. Tom Compton, a fourth-year player, got his first significant action of the seasson protecting quarterback Matt Ryans blind side. Pat Lafontaine Jersey. ompton turned in a solid performance, but the Falcons cant afford to lose Matthews for an extended period. The No. 6 overall pick in 2014, he had stepped up his play significantly this season.Jakes really playing at a high level, Quinn said. You can see it his pass protection. You can see it in the run game. His play took a significant jump from 2015 to 2016.Clayborn underwent surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament shortly after being hurt in a Nov. 27 game against Arizona. Quinn hasnt ruled out a return this season, but the Falcons moved to bolster their depth on the defensive line by bringing back Malliciah Goodman.A fourth-round pick in 2013, Goodman appeared in 34 games, including 11 starts, before he was cut in September near the end of training camp. He played one game this season at Seattle.The Falcons also promoted offensive lineman Kevin Graf from the practice squad in case Matthews isnt able to play Sunday. To make room on the roster for two new players, Atlanta waived defensive lineman Cliff Matthews and center Trevor Robinson.While there were no immediate moves to address the injuries to Jones and Sanu, Quinn noted hes got two receivers on the practice squad, Nick Williams and J.D. McKissic. Thats where Atlanta would turn if necessary.The Falcons have led the NFC South much of the season, but now theyve got company in the top spot. Tampa Bay (7-5) has won four straight to pull into a tie with Atlanta, which has lost two of its last three games.A year ago, the Falcons collapsed down the stretch after starting 6-1. They finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '