Washington Nationals Shutout by New York Mets on Opening Day

The Washington Nationals were shutout by Jacob DeGrom and the New York Mets 2-0 on Opening Day 2019.

The Washington Nationals started their 2019 regular season this afternoon with a matchup against the New York Mets. It was a battle of aces as Jacob DeGrom went up against the Nationals Max Scherzer.

The Mets started the scoring. In the bottom of the first second basemen, Robinson Cano hit a solo shot to center, giving the Mets an early 1-0 lead.

Scherzer settled down very well after the home run, and the Washington offense was on the attack in the top of the third. Victor Robles led off the inning with a double and was followed up with a single by Adam Eaton. The Nationals had runners on first and third with no outs for the middle of their batting order.

Trea Turner came up next and struck out, followed by Anthony Rendon hitting a groundball to third that should have scored Robles, but he froze in between third and home and the Mets were able to turn a double play, getting DeGrom out of the inning.

After giving up two hits in the third DeGrom continued to dominate the Nats. Holding them to just four hits and striking out nine through the first five innings.

Turner led off the sixth inning with a leadoff single, then promptly stole second base leaving him there with none down. Rendon was unable to get Turner to third grounding out to short, and Juan Soto struck out following him. That left Ryan Zimmerman with Turner on third and two down, and he flew out to short right, allowing DeGrom to escape another jam unscathed.

DeGrom’s day would end being replaced by Seth Lugo after six dominant innings, with just five hits allowed, striking out 10.

After hitting for himself with none on in the seventh, Scherzer came back and got two outs in the eight before being replaced by Justin Miller. Scherzer finished an absolutely dominant Opening Day with 7.2 IP, two hits allowed, and 12 strikeouts.

Miller was unable to retire rookie Peter Alonso, forcing Nationals Manager Dave Martinez to insert left-hander Matt Grace in to face Cano with two on and two out.

Grace failed to handle Cano as he blooped an RBI single into left field, scoring Dominic Smith and giving the Mets a 2-0 lead.

Jeurys Familia and Kyle Barraclough both followed with scoreless frames for their respective teams, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth at 2-0.

Mets new closer Edwin Diaz came on to close the game out for New York. The 25-year-old worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth, giving the Mets the 2-0 win.

Next Game: The Washington Nationals return to action Saturday at 1:05 E.T. as they continue their series with the New York Mets. It will be Stephen Strasburg for the Nationals opposed by Noah Syndergaard for New York.