Theeeeeeeee first win of 2020 belongs to the @Yankees. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/WQRgUoqs8R
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2020
Yankees vs. Nationals score: Gerrit Cole wins debut in rain-shortened 2020 MLB opener
The Yankees are 1-0 after just five full innings of work
An MLB season unlike any other opened Thursday night at Nationals Park. The defending World Series champion Washington Nationals hosted the New York Yankees in Game 1 of this abbreviated 60-game season.
The Yankees wasted no time giving Gerrit Cole, their new ace, some run support. The offense put consistent pressure on Max Scherzer and New York was holding a 4-1 lead when the umpires called for the tarp with one out in the top of the sixth inning. The rain never subsided and the game was called after a two-hour rain delay. The Yankees are 1-0 (box score).
Here are three takeaways from Opening Day as the Yankees beat the Nationals in a rain-shortened affair.
Cole dominates in Yankees debut
Adam Eaton, the second batter Cole faced as a Yankee, hit a 406-foot home run to right field. Not a great start! Cole quickly settled down though. The $324 million man retired 14 of the 16 batters he faced after the Eaton homer, and the two baserunners were a hit by pitch and a walk. Five of the 16 struck out.
Cole missed up with his fastball consistently the first two innings, a classic indication the pitcher is overthrowing, which suggests he was a little amped up in his first start as a Yankee. He soon settled down though and was dominant through five innings, limiting the Nationals to an 89 mph average exit velocity on 11 balls in play. Weak contact all night.
Cole is the seventh pitcher to make his Yankees debut as the Opening Day starter, joining Jack Chesbro (1903), Sad Sam Jones (1922), Jimmy Key (1993), Roger Clemens (1999), Randy Johnson (2005), and CC Sabathia (2009). He's only the second Yankee to allow no more than one hit on Opening Day. Luis Severino did it in 2018.
Big games for Judge and Stanton
Last season injuries limited Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton to 120 games, including only 18 by Stanton. Had the 2020 season started on time, Judge and Stanton both would have been on the injured list on Opening Day. Judge was dealing with a fracture rib that dated back to last September and Stanton hurt his calf in March.
The shutdown gave both players time to heal and allowed them to be in the Opening Day lineup on Thursday. Judge recorded the season's first hit with a solid single to left field in the first inning. Two batters later, Stanton took Max Scherzer deep for the season's first home run and gave the Yankees a 2-0 lead:
The first homer of the new season was not a cheapie. Statcast says it traveled 459 feet and left Stanton's bat at 112 mph. Judge's single wasn't too far behind at 108 mph. They made very loud contact in the first inning.
Their contributions did not stop there. Judge ripped a double to left field in the third inning, scoring the speedy Tyler Wade all the way from first base. Two innings after that Stanton poked a run-scoring single to right with the bases loaded to stretch New York's lead to 4-1.
Judge and Stanton went a combined 4 for 6 with a double and a homer prior to the rain delay Thursday. The rest of the Yankees went 2 for 16 and one of the two hits was a bunt single.
Scherzer has worst Opening Day start
Five days ago Scherzer was hit hard by the Phillies in an exhibition game but said afterward he wasn't concerned. "I got beat around a little bit, but that's good," he said. I wasn't concerned either. A veteran pitcher like Scherzer knows what he has to do to prepare for the season.
On Thursday night, Scherzer had a very hit or miss outing against the Yankees. The good: 11 strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings, including five strikeouts in the span of six batters at one point. The bad: four earned runs, or the same number he'd allowed in his previous four Opening Day starts combined (four earned runs in 28 1/3 innings).
Scherzer faced 26 batters before the rain delay and 10 reached base. He allowed double-digit baserunners in only four of his 27 starts last season. The four walks tied his season high from last season, which he did only once.
Live updates
📍 District of Coleumbia pic.twitter.com/W06LNhUbme
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 24, 2020
G & GC rain over DC. #OpeningDay #NYYforNY pic.twitter.com/Od2CnkqTMS
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 24, 2020
Tonight's game has been called due to inclement weather.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 24, 2020
It is considered an official game.
FINAL // Yankees 4, Nats 1 pic.twitter.com/CR7xfjgzq5
Mookie Betts takes a knee during the National Anthem, supported by teammates Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy. pic.twitter.com/OJyZ84hMLV
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2020
Disregard, the tarp is going back on.
The field is being de-tarped. No start time announced yet though.
📍 Washington, DC#BlackLivesMatter // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/RPHyNwaCI7
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 24, 2020
United as one. pic.twitter.com/VIgDPLbzRd
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2020
Are YOU ready for game TWO? pic.twitter.com/NRnOwkEgsU
— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 24, 2020
The first of many for Mookie in Dodger blue. #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/qc74Jmkzzs
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2020
Watching, Wadeing.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 24, 2020
Commiserating. pic.twitter.com/T52Zj5gqFB
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2020
This is Max Scherzer's 3rd 10+ K #OpeningDay start.
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) July 24, 2020
All other @Nationals/Expos combined have 2. pic.twitter.com/7fLvaROUq9
At 22 years, 321 days, @d_maydabeast is the youngest @Dodgers pitcher to start on #OpeningDay since Fernando Valenzuela in 1983. pic.twitter.com/Rkk911GAVK
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) July 24, 2020
Updated information about the 2020 postseason: pic.twitter.com/HvtDTk6AJw
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2020
Raining champs.#OpeningDay // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/Nv1PVmz3A7
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 24, 2020
Dodger Stadium looking lovely as always. 😍#OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/xxl0VH3O2Y
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2020
Dodger Stadium looking lovely as always. 😍 #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/0rvHFu5G0l
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2020
Washington, G.C. pic.twitter.com/09ehcwqf6f
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 24, 2020
Which prospects could get the call and make an impact this year? https://t.co/Q4I71TSbWY pic.twitter.com/owmWiENqtT
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 24, 2020
first game of the season. First rain delay of the season. Sigh.
Big G opened the 2020 season with a 459-footer 👋
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 24, 2020
Tag us using #BudLightHomers & #Sweepstakes or RT this post for your chance to win an authentic 2020 HR ball! pic.twitter.com/kP3ctuXopq
Tonight's game is currently delayed due to inclement weather.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 24, 2020
We'll provide more information as soon as it's available. pic.twitter.com/3PXvqX0O5k
❤️ #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/OmxwMf9vjH
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2020
Tonight's game is officially under a rain delay. We will update you with information as it becomes available.
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 24, 2020
Tonight's game is currently delayed due to inclement weather.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 24, 2020
We'll provide more information as soon as it's available. pic.twitter.com/3PXvqX0O5k
A 459-foot #StantonSmash to start the season. 😱
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2020
Tag your favorite team and use #BudLightHomers & #Sweepstakes for your chance to win an authentic 2020 HR ball! pic.twitter.com/jddw6gMdmS
Huge thanks to Dr. Anthony Fauci for throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the World Series Champion Washington Nationals.#OpeningDay // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/16wGWyfnlH
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 24, 2020
Rain's coming and the Yankees need one out to make this an official game.