WASHINGTON — Daniel Murphy capped off an impressive Nationals debut with the game-winning RBI double as the Nats beat the Braves 4-3 in 10 innings.
Murphy went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run on Opening Day, as the Nats made a winner out of Manager Dusty Baker in his first game in a Washington uniform.
After the game, the Nationals presented Baker with the game ball in the winning clubhouse.
Harper Homer: Reining National League MVP Bryce Harper picked up where he left off last season, hitting a solo home run in his first at bat of the season. The home run was Harper’s fourth career-long ball on Opening Day and the 98th overall of his Major League career.
Harper also continued to hit well against Braves starter Julio Teheran. The 23-year-old is now 11-for-25 (.444) lifetime against Teheran with four home runs.
Scherzer’s Start: Nationals starter Max Scherzer allowed only three hits in seven innings, but two of the hits were solo home runs to Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman and Adonis Garcia. Scherzer allowed a league-high 17 home runs after the All-Star break last season and is looking to improve in that area this season.
Scherzer’s line: 7IP, 3H, 2ER, 2BB, 7K, 104 pitches
Revere Exits Early: Starting center fielder Ben Revere left his Nationals debut in the fourth inning due to a sore rib cage. Baker said after the game that Revere is day-to-day. Michael A. Taylor replaced Revere and drove in the game-tying run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning that scored Jayson Werth.
Papelbon Earns Save: Closer Jonathan Papelbon pitched a 1-2-3 tenth inning in earning his first save of the season. Blake Treinen pitched a scoreless ninth inning and earned the win.
They said it: “It’s kind of like the game telling me ‘welcome back.’ There were a lot of highs and lows in that game and boy, that was some ballgame.” – Manager Dusty Baker on returning to a Major League dugout for the first time since 2013.
Nats Alumni Update: Outfielder Denard Span went 2-for-4 with a three-run homer and five RBI in his San Francisco Giants debut- a 12-3 win in Milwaukee … Ian Desmond went 0-for-4 with a strikeout as the Rangers beat the Mariners 3-2 in Texas … Former Nationals pitcher Ross Ohlendorf earned the win in relief as the Reds beat the Phillies 6-2 in Philadelphia.