After a disappointing Opening Night in Washington, D.C., which ended in a five-inning rainout victory for the Yankees, the Washington Nationals stole their first win of the season on Saturday night.
Defeating the Yankees by a score of 9-2, the reigning World Series champions dominated the Bronx Bombers even without Stephen Strasburg, who was scratched before the game.
Starting in place of the injured Strasburg, Erick Fedde gave the Nationals four quality innings of pitching and survived against the formidable New York lineup.
Washington got off to a quick start in the second inning with Victor Robles driving in two on an RBI double and Trea Turner providing another RBI after he grounded into a double play.
The Yankees responded with an RBI single by DJ LeMahieu in the third inning and a solo home run 483 feet into the Washington night off the bat of Giancarlo Stanton.
After the initial burst of offense by the Yankees, the Nationals responded with six unanswered runs. Asrubal Cabrera led the surge with a solo home run and an RBI double.
The Washington bullpen made easy work of the slugging Yankees after Fedde left the game following five shutout innings. Tanner Rainey, Ryne Harper, James Bourque, and Kyle Finnegan provided stellar performances in relief for the Nationals.
Michael Taylor added an insurance solo shot in the eighth inning, giving the virtual hometown crowd one more exciting moment to cheer for.
Even without Anthony Rendon, Ryan Zimmerman, or Juan Soto, the Nationals seem to have the firepower to support a pitching staff that carried them through the 2019 playoffs.
The Yankees and the Nationals square off again Sunday with Patrick Corbin on the mound for the Nationals as he looks to continue his excellence from 2019.
