Rendon homers twice, Nats explode in 10-1 win over Mariners

Mariners rookie Sam Gaviglio (0-1) allowed all five runs - one earned - over six innings as the Mariners lost their fifth straight.

With one run already across the plate and two runners on base in the bottom of the first, Rendon launched a pitch from Gaviglio into the left field bullpen.

Nats starter Tanner Roark went seven innings and allowed one run on eight hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.

Roark's best outing in weeks, combined with another early offensive explosion against the Mariners, produced a 5-1 victory before a crowd of 29,223 that didn't have to sweat much for the second night in a row.

Nationals: Washington's 62 runs scored over Ross's first four starts is the most support a starter has received over that span in major league history, according to the Nationals PR Twitter account via Elias Sports Bureau.

Anthony Rendon homered twice, including a three-run shot in an eight-run fourth inning. He gave up a run-scoring single to Robinson Cano in the first inning and then clamped down to toss a subsequent six scoreless frames. Taylor couldn't secure the ball while crashing into the wall, but Roark stranded Cano at second. "He was all over the field".

Mariners: OF Mitch Haniger (oblique) is expected to join the club Wednesday and work out in Washington before being sent on a rehab assignment, manager Scott Servais said. They scored just one run in each loss of their five-game skid and only 32 runs during a 3-10 collapse over the last two weeks. Seattle Mariners catcher Mike Zunino, left, watches. Heisey said he did not believe the injury would be season ending.

First pitch was originally scheduled for 4:05 p.m.in the teams' third and final interleague meeting.

The teams do not share any common days off during the Mariners' other East Coast trips this season. Then he was optioned back to Tacoma on Wednesday as Seattle recalled RHP Rob Whalen. The Mariners, also on Wednesday, acquired minor league OF Andrew Aplin from the Houston Astros for a player to be named later or cash considerations ... The 27-year-old was 2-3 with a 3.31 ERA in five starts at Triple-A Tacoma.

Former Nationals manager and current Mariners third-base coach Manny Acta tipped his cap to applause from the Nationals Park crowd when he was shown on the scoreboard during the first inning.

Nationals: Gio Gonzalez (3-1, 2.86) has historically had the better of Mariners slugger Nelson Cruz, allowing him only a single in 13 at-bats and striking him out five times.