Yankees win rain-shortened game over Nationals 4-1

Major League Baseball is back, and the first game is a wrap. The New York Yankees defeaed the Washington Nationals 4-1 in a game called in the top of the sixth inning due to rain. The rain got going a little after 8:30 p.m. and the game was officially called at approximately 10:50 p.m.

Gerrit Cole got the win in his Yankees debut, and a one-hit “complete game” to boost. He struggled at times with his location, but he gave up a single hit and struck out five. The hit was a home run by Adam Eaton, but otherwise the Nationals could get nothing going.

Giancarlo Stanton announced his presence with authority in the victory. He hit a 459-foot shot to center field to give the Yankees an early 2-0 lead. Aaron Judge doubled in a run two innings later, and Stanton knocked in another run two innings after that to complete the 4-1 victory.

Max Scherzer got the loss, but was impressive against a strong Yankees lineup. After stumbling in the first, Scherzer finished the game with 11 strikeouts. It marked his third Opening Day start with double digit strikeouts and the 94th of his career.

The Yankees were -139 favorites for the opener, with the Nationals installed at +120. After Juan Soto was ruled out due to Covid-19, the money line moved to Yankees -157 and Nationals +138. The Yankees -1.5 run line improved from +125 to +108, while the Nationals +1.5 run line moved from -148 to -129. The game came in under the 7.5 run total and the Yankees got the money line win and run line win.

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