Today is Opening Day, and the Nationals are facing the Braves. They just wrapped up the seventh inning. Here is everything you need to know.
- Both starting pitchers are out. Livan Hernandez went 6.1 innings, surrendering two runs -- both earned -- on four hits, including that early homerun blast to Jason Heyward. Derek Lowe went 5.2 innings, and using movement to scatter three hits while fanning six. He did not give up a run.
- Tyler Clipper got entered the game with one out and runners on first and second in the top of the seventh. He whiffed Alex Gonzalez on a 3-2 changeup and got Freddie Freeman to fly out to left, ending the inning and keeping the National in striking distance
- Rick Ankiel led off the bottom of the seventh, and flew out to left. Second baseman Danny Espinosa doubled to the gap in left-center for the first extra-base hit of the Nats season. But it was wasted as Ivan Rodriguez grounded out to first base and Lance Nix struck out.