Washington Nationals: Adam Lind Delivers Clutch Homer In Opening Day Win

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.

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.