Wire Taps: Washington Nationals blow lead late in opener with Atlanta Braves + Juan Soto POTW; Luis García hits first HR...

Washington’s Nationals went up 6-3 when Juan Soto homered off Will Smith (and made the non-Fresh Prince angries) but Soto might have woken the Atlanta Braves up too, because it got ugly in the bottom of the ninth with Daniel Hudson giving up four runs on two, two-run home runs that lifted the home team to a 7-6 win in Truist Park.

“We had the perfect guy out there in the ninth inning just couldn’t get it done tonight. He’ll be back out there tomorrow,” Davey Martinez told reporters after the loss.

“It stings,” Hudson said of the blown save/loss. “A three-run lead in the ninth inning should be game over, you know, it’s not always the case, it is baseball.”

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

BS/L:

Nationals allow four runs in ninth, suffer brutal walk-off loss against Braves - (WaPost)
"Dansby Swanson had hit a two-run, walk-off homer to lift the host Atlanta Braves over the Washington Nationals, 7-6, on Monday night at Truist Park."

Pair of ninth-inning homers off Hudson shock Nats - (MASN)
"The first of 10 games between the Nats and Braves was exactly what you’d expect it to be: a tense, tight, perhaps contentious battle..."

García Goes Yard:

Nationals’ Luis García becomes first MLB player born in the 2000s to hit a home run - (NBC Sports Washington)
"A new era of Major League Baseball began Monday, when Nationals rookie infielder Luis García became the first player born in the 2000s to hit a home run at the highest level."

Nats prospect 1st player born in 2000s to HR - (MLB.com)
"Want to feel old? Luis García, the Nationals' No. 2 prospect, became the first MLB player born in the 2000s to hit a home run at the big league level."

Juan Soto Love:

Juan Soto is already absurdly good — and he might be getting better - (WaPost)
"Is the same thing happening to Soto that happened with Ted Williams, Ty Cobb, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Jimmie Foxx, Ken Griffey, Jr., Joe DiMaggio, Miguel Cabrera, Eddie Mathews and even Mike Trout?"

Injury Updates:

Martinez being careful with Kendrick; updates on Strasburg, Castro - (MASN)
"Kendrick has not played since Friday night. He has sat out a few games this season with a tight hamstring."

Stras (hand), Castro (wrist) await test results - (MLB.com)
"Castro sought a second opinion on his broken right wrist. Those tests results are pending, and Martinez plans to call Castro to discuss further."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Swanson homers as Braves get another walk-off victory - (AJC.com)
"Another come-from-behind victory. Let the socially distance celebration begin."

Pete Alonso, Robinson Cano hit HRs to beat Miami Marlins - (Miami Herald)
Jordan Yamamoto didn’t last two innings, the bullpen gave up four home runs (two each to Robinson Cano and Pete Alonso) and the Miami Marlins’ losing streak extended to three with a loss to the New York Mets.”

Mets need their bullpen to save their season this time - (NY Post)
"From what we’ve seen so far in 2020, these guys will have to get it done with a loaded, superior bullpen to cover up for a starting corps more disheveled than Shooter Flatch at the start of 'Hoosiers.'"

These numbers are encouraging for Phillies - (MLB.com)
"The Phillies leave Monday night for a four-city, 10-game road trip against the Red Sox, Blue Jays, Braves and Nationals."