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| Daniel Murphy gives Nationals their money’s worth in season-opening win over Braves | Daniel Murphy gives Nationals their money’s worth in season-opening win over Braves |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ATLANTA — The Nationals signed second baseman Daniel Murphy this winter, after years of watching him torment them with the New York Mets, because they knew first-hand how tough of an out he can be. And in his first game with Washington on Monday, Murphy’s disciplined approach and high-contact bat helped save the day. | ATLANTA — The Nationals signed second baseman Daniel Murphy this winter, after years of watching him torment them with the New York Mets, because they knew first-hand how tough of an out he can be. And in his first game with Washington on Monday, Murphy’s disciplined approach and high-contact bat helped save the day. |
| Murphy, who signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal in December, was a pest for Atlanta Braves pitchers in a 4-3 win. He drove in two runs, walked twice, smashed a solo home run and had the go-ahead RBI with a slicing opposite field double in the 10th inning of a back-and-forth game. | Murphy, who signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal in December, was a pest for Atlanta Braves pitchers in a 4-3 win. He drove in two runs, walked twice, smashed a solo home run and had the go-ahead RBI with a slicing opposite field double in the 10th inning of a back-and-forth game. |
| “Classic Daniel Murphy,” left fielder Jayson Werth said. | “Classic Daniel Murphy,” left fielder Jayson Werth said. |
| Added shortstop Danny Espinosa: “He’s a special hitter.” | Added shortstop Danny Espinosa: “He’s a special hitter.” |
| One game is far too small a sample to judge a hitter and his impact on the lineup, but consider the two situations in which Murphy drove in runs. Shadows during the middle innings of the afternoon game split the field in half, making it hard for hitters to see the mound. Yet in the fourth inning against Braves starter Julio Teheran, Murphy skied a 2-0 pitch to center field for a solo home run. | One game is far too small a sample to judge a hitter and his impact on the lineup, but consider the two situations in which Murphy drove in runs. Shadows during the middle innings of the afternoon game split the field in half, making it hard for hitters to see the mound. Yet in the fourth inning against Braves starter Julio Teheran, Murphy skied a 2-0 pitch to center field for a solo home run. |
| “I was just trying to get something over the middle of the plate and get [my] foot down early,” Murphy said. “I saw it okay. I didn’t see it great in a couple of the walks. Just fortunate that none of the pitches were in the zone.” | “I was just trying to get something over the middle of the plate and get [my] foot down early,” Murphy said. “I saw it okay. I didn’t see it great in a couple of the walks. Just fortunate that none of the pitches were in the zone.” |
| [Nationals win drama-filled opener against Atlanta] | [Nationals win drama-filled opener against Atlanta] |
| In his 10th-inning at-bat that proved to be the game-winner, Murphy squared off against left-handed reliever Eric O’Flaherty, who he has faced before and shared a clubhouse with in New York last season. Murphy didn’t bite on O’Flaherty’s first three pitches, all fastballs called balls. Manager Dusty Baker let Murphy swing with a 3-0 count, but Murphy took a fastball on the inside corner before smacking a fastball over the plate down the left field line. | In his 10th-inning at-bat that proved to be the game-winner, Murphy squared off against left-handed reliever Eric O’Flaherty, who he has faced before and shared a clubhouse with in New York last season. Murphy didn’t bite on O’Flaherty’s first three pitches, all fastballs called balls. Manager Dusty Baker let Murphy swing with a 3-0 count, but Murphy took a fastball on the inside corner before smacking a fastball over the plate down the left field line. |
| “I didn’t hammer it by any stretch of the imagination, but it found outfield grass to take the lead and [closer Jonathan Papelbon] comes in and shut the door,” Murphy said. “A great start to the year.” | “I didn’t hammer it by any stretch of the imagination, but it found outfield grass to take the lead and [closer Jonathan Papelbon] comes in and shut the door,” Murphy said. “A great start to the year.” |
| Murphy, 31, is the only new addition to the Nationals’ infield. He brings a polished left-handed bat to a lineup that was too right-handed last year. He brings some power, evidenced by his playoff heroics for the Mets. And he brings a bat that was one of the hardest to strike out last season to a lineup of several power hitters. | Murphy, 31, is the only new addition to the Nationals’ infield. He brings a polished left-handed bat to a lineup that was too right-handed last year. He brings some power, evidenced by his playoff heroics for the Mets. And he brings a bat that was one of the hardest to strike out last season to a lineup of several power hitters. |
| [Boswell: Plenty of good, bad and ugly in Nationals opener] | |
| “He’s got his plan what he wants to do, and it’s a lot of fun to watch especially that he’s in a Nationals uniform now,” right fielder Bryce Harper said. “That’s huge for us. He’s a grinder, being able to come in every single day, work hard, and he’s out here to win ballgames.” | “He’s got his plan what he wants to do, and it’s a lot of fun to watch especially that he’s in a Nationals uniform now,” right fielder Bryce Harper said. “That’s huge for us. He’s a grinder, being able to come in every single day, work hard, and he’s out here to win ballgames.” |
| Defensively, Murphy was also involved in a key play Monday: He was the first player in MLB to experience the new rules about second base slides. Runners must be able to remain on or within reach of the base following a slide. | Defensively, Murphy was also involved in a key play Monday: He was the first player in MLB to experience the new rules about second base slides. Runners must be able to remain on or within reach of the base following a slide. |
| But during the seventh inning, Nick Markakis raced to second after a groundball to third baseman Anthony Rendon by Hector Olivera. Markakis slid to the left of the base and at Murphy, knocking him down. The throw didn’t beat Olivera to first, but umpires ruled it a double play because of Markakis’s slide. | But during the seventh inning, Nick Markakis raced to second after a groundball to third baseman Anthony Rendon by Hector Olivera. Markakis slid to the left of the base and at Murphy, knocking him down. The throw didn’t beat Olivera to first, but umpires ruled it a double play because of Markakis’s slide. |
| “Never a dull moment,” Murphy said. “It’s just one of those things I think it’s been discussed and that’s the rule. As soon as he came through, I looked and saw he was past the bag. I saw something to [umpire] Paul [Nauert], ‘He’s out!’ Whether you agree or don’t agree with it, that’s the way it is now and we’ve all got to adjust.” | “Never a dull moment,” Murphy said. “It’s just one of those things I think it’s been discussed and that’s the rule. As soon as he came through, I looked and saw he was past the bag. I saw something to [umpire] Paul [Nauert], ‘He’s out!’ Whether you agree or don’t agree with it, that’s the way it is now and we’ve all got to adjust.” |