Two-time reigning NL Cy Young Max Scherzer pitched a magnificent six-inning shutout and the Nationals used their speed around the bases to open the season with a 2-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Maxed out: Scherzer struck out 10 batters — tying Stephen Strasburg for the most Opening Day strikeouts in club history. At one point, Scherzer fanned seven straight batters. He had his change-up going and the Reds could keep up. The amazing feat was this was the third straight game Scherzer had struck out 10 against the Reds.
There are 161 games left on the docket, but if Friday’s opener was any sign of things to come for Scherzer, there could be a third straight Cy Young in tow.
Team speed on full display: The Nationals have it all along their lineup, including speed. Friday, they used every bit of it and it went a long way to scoring their two pivotal runs.
Coming off a torn ACL a season ago, Adam Eaton led off the game with a single. He used his speed to get from first to third on a Bryce Harper single. When Ryan Zimmerman grounded into what appeared to be a routine double play, Harper’s speed and ability to charge the bag forced an errand throw by Scooter Gennett allowing Eaton to score from third for the first run of the season.
Today was Adam Eaton's first regular season game back atop the #Nats lineup and he did some Adam Eaton things. pic.twitter.com/467NpXlR2F
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) March 30, 2018
Then Michael A. Taylor led off the ninth with a bunt-single. Then he stole second base to get in scoring position. He reached third off a Matt Wieters’ ground out to short. The next batter, Brain Goodwin, hit a sacrifice fly to third, allowing the fleeter Taylor to beat the throw to home for the insurance run.
Three Nationals showing off their hustle and speed and just think, no mention of the fastest of them all Trea Turner. The Nationals have struggled with small ball in recent past, but under first-year skipper Dave Martinez it appears those struggles may be a distant memory.
Shutdown bullpen: The back end of the Nationals’ bullpen were able to shut the door on any rally of the Reds. Brandon Kintzler, Ryan Madson, and Sean Doolittle kept the shutout going through the final three frames.
Kintzler needed just 10 pitches to get through the seventh. Madson got in a bit of trouble yielding back-to-back two-out singles. But he got Scott Schebler to ground out on a change-up to second to get out of the jam. Then Doolittle recorded his first save of the season despite a two-out walk, by striking out two, including Billy Hamilton to close the game.
Locking down that #OpeningDay win. #PrevailingMoments pic.twitter.com/iOb8a7iA1P
— MLB (@MLB) March 31, 2018
The three will have to be a formidable trio consistently for the season if the Nationals reach their ultimate goal of a World Series.
