WASHINGTON, D.C.- It took nearly 100 days for Major League Baseball’s lockout to end, and on April 7, 2022, it was time to play ball.
The New York Mets and Washington Nationals began their 2022 season with a four-game series at Nationals Park. The Mets would hit 12 and drive in 5 for the 5-1 win to start their season.
Scheduled to pitch for the Mets was Jacob deGrom. However, on April 2, an MRI showed he’ll miss significant time as he deals with a stress reaction on his scapula. On the mound was Tylor Megill, his first career Opening Day start. Whereas for the Nationals, Patrick Corbin.
Both Megill and Corbin were great early on. That was until the fourth inning began for Corbin.
The Mets’ offense began to roll in the fifth inning. Robinson Cano started the inning with a bunt to third to get on base. Mark Canha came up to draw a walk, followed by a Jeff McNeil hit up the middle to get on base to make the bases loaded with no outs. Mets’ catcher, James McCann, would get hit by a pitch that allowed Cano to come home for the Mets’ first run. Starling Marte would step to the plate and get his first RBI of the season to drive in Canha to make it 2-0.
Corbin’s night ended, pitching four innings allowing two runs, and striking out four.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Mets would add two more runs thanks to Canha and Jeff McNeil, each having an RBI apiece.
It looked like the Mets had a shutout on their mind. Incomes Juan Soto. Soto got his Nationals on the board with a solo homer to right field in the bottom of the sixth.
Soto’s homer didn’t seem to bother J.D. Davis. He stepped to the plate with a leadoff double in the top of the seventh. Thanks to an RBI single, Francisco Lindor brought him home to make it 5-1.
MeGill Shines
In the third inning, MeGill got himself into a jam as the Nationals started the inning with an Alcides Escobar single. Followed by a Victor Robles sacrifice bunt to move the runner to second. An infield hit by Cesar Hernandez would have runners at the corners. MeGill got out of the inning with no runs scoring with all of that movement.
MeGill’s night would end pitching five innings, allowing three hits and striking out six on 69 pitches. It was an impressive outing for the starter to begin his 2022 season.
Up Next
Game two of the four-game series will be Friday, April 8, at 7:05 p.m. EST.
Max Scherzer will make his debut for the Mets against his former team. Josiah Gray will get the ball for the Nationals.
