Wire Taps: Nationals beat Tanner Roark, some Gerardo Parra love + more Nats links...

The Nationals have one more with the Reds this afternoon in Cincinnati, then they head home to Washington, D.C. for a day off and the 2019 MLB Draft.

Catch up on the last 24 hours in Nationals news before the baseball starts in Cincinnati and Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo and Co. in the front office get to celebrate an event they refer to as the baseball Super Bowl. Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Nationals vs Tanner Roark:

Nationals rough up old friend Tanner Roark and bullpen stifles Reds - (WaPost)
"The Nationals were nearly buried in a pile of mistakes. They made two errors and could have been tagged for another."

Tanner beats Tanner as Nats right the series with 5-2 win over Reds - (MASN)
"Gerardo Parra cranked a three-run homer and Matt Adams slammed a solo shot off Roark (4-4), who spent six seasons with the Nats."

Nats homer twice off Roark as 'pen quiets Reds - (MLB.com)
"Parra hit a 1-2 pitch from Roark into the right-field seats for a three-run home run in the second to put the Nationals ahead 3-0. It was his fourth home run this season."

Other Nationals News:

Nationals sign reliever Fernando Rodney to a minor league deal - (WaPost)
"Rodney was baseball’s oldest pitcher before he was designated for assignment by the Oakland Athletics on May 25. "

Parra proving to be valuable mentor for Soto and Robles - (MASN)
"[Gerardo] Parra has gladly taken on the responsibility of mentoring Latin teammates [Juan] Soto and Victor Robles: talking baseball, their young lives in the game, and focusing on outfield defense and strategy on the field."

Nationals pick 17th in MLB draft. Here’s what we can expect - (WaPost)
"The Nationals are fond of college pitchers. The only problem: They might all be gone before they pick."

Gomes, Suzuki learn to share catching duties - (MLB.com)
"That two-pronged approach at backstop is expected to continue. 'We talked in Spring Training about it, and they’re both on board,' Nationals manager Dave Martinez said."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

End of Roark's homerless streak costly in Reds' 5-2 loss to Nationals - (Cincinnati.com)
"Tanner Roark had not allowed a home run over 35 1/3 innings entering Saturday’s game against his old team, the Washington Nationals."

If Mets, Nationals decide to fire their managers the replacements need to be culture changers - (New York Daily News)
"In Martinez’s case, it was not his fault the Nats were playing without the heart of his lineup, Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, Trea Turner, Howie Kendrick and Juan Soto for much of the first six weeks of the season, or the fact the Nats’ bullpen has lost 11 games."