Behind a clutch home run from Adam Lind off the bench and a good performance on the mound from Stephen Strasburg, the Washington Nationals picked up the Opening Day win over the Marlins.
The Washington Nationals received a phenomenal pitching performance from Stephen Strasburg and a late homer from Adam Lind off the bench led to a 4-2 victory against the Marlins on Opening Day.
Giancarlo Stanton gave the Marlins an early 1-0 lead in the fourth inning with a RBI double to score J.T. Realmuto. Later in the fourth frame, Marcell Ozuna laced a single to center field to bring home Stanton, which extended the lead to 2-0.
Edinson Volquez pitched five scoreless innings for the Marlins, allowing four hits, surrendering one walk and striking out six on 82 pitches (51 strikes). He picked up a no-decision in this start.
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Bryce Harper trimmed the deficit to 2-1 with a solo home run to right-center field in the bottom of the sixth against Marlins’ reliever David Phelps. This was the fifth Opening Day home run in Harper’s career.
Harper also joined a very exclusive list with the home run today, per Andrew Simon of MLB.com.
Most Opening Day HR by age 24:
— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) April 3, 2017
- Bryce Harper: 5
- Gary Carter: 4
- Mickey Mantle: 3
- Dean Palmer: 3
- Corey Patterson (yup): 3
Strasburg was brilliant in his Opening Day outing. He went seven innings, allowed two runs, surrendered six hits, fanned three batters and didn’t issue a walk as he picked up the win. He was super efficient, needing just 85 pitches (63 strikes) to keep the Marlins at bay. He was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning.
That pinch-hitter was Lind, who gave the Washington Nationals a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh with a pinch-hit, two-run home run off of David Phelps. It was the sixth pinch-hit homer of Lind’s career.
Sammy Solis came out of the bullpen and tossed a scoreless eighth. In the bottom of the inning, Daniel Murphy extended the Nats lead to 4-2 with a RBI single to right field in the eighth inning.
Then, in the ninth, Blake Treinen pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his first save of the season.
This was a terrific way for the Washington Nationals to start the 2017 season. They received a great outing from their starter, the offense came through when it mattered most, and Treinen passed his first test as the team’s closer with flying colors.
Next: Ranking Past Opening Day Lineups
Next Game: The Washington Nationals (1-0) will continue their series with the Marlins (0-1) on Wednesday. Dan Straily will be on the mound for Miami and Tanner Roark will be pitching for Washington.You can watch the game at 7:05 pm on MASN.