10 in six scoreless innings http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-paul-konerko-jersey , and Max Scherzer fanned 12, it was New York Mets newcomer Robinson Cano who decided the outcome with a homer, an RBI single and head’s-up throw to the plate.Interrupting a pair of performances befitting the owners of the past three NL Cy Young Awards, Cano went deep against Scherzer in his debut at-bat for the Mets and saved a run with an unusual double play, and New York edged the Bryce Harper-less Washington Nationals 2-0 in the opener for both teams Thursday.While the Nationals’ offense clearly missed its former slugger — Harper was up I-95, playing Game 1 of his $330 million contract for the Philadelphia Phillies — Cano showed why the Mets wanted to get him from the Seattle Mariners in a December deal that also landed closer Edwin Diaz, who got the save Thursday.Cano, an eight-time All-Star, drove a changeup to left-center on Scherzer’s 13th pitch of the season. The shot quieted a sellout crowd of 42,263 on a sunny afternoon with the temperature at 56 degrees for the start.“Missed by a little bit too much over the middle,” lamented Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award recipient who was runner-up to deGrom last season. “You do that in this league, you get burned.”Cano became the first Mets player to go deep in his initial at-bat with the club since Mike Jacobs in 2005, and the 10th overall.It was his play at second base that was the talk of both clubhouses.The Nationals had runners at the corners in the third Nellie Fox Jersey , but deGrom struck out Trea Turner, then got Anthony Rendon to hit a grounder to third. The runner there, 21-year-old rookie Victor Robles, hesitated before heading home. Cano took the throw from third for the forceout a second, then zipped the ball to the plate. Robles wound up tagged out for a 5-4-2-5 double play.“He’s probably the only guy in baseball that makes that play, and it was a no-look pass to home, to boot,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “The runner at third probably did the wrong thing — and Cano made him pay.”Robles acknowledged as much.“To be honest, I got a little confused,” Robles said through a translator. “In the middle of the moment, I realized I had made the mistake, so I tried to kind of make up for it.”He is Washington’s man in center field, where Harper spent a lot of time a year ago, and that gaffe on the bases stood out more than Robles’ double or his diving catch. With Harper no longer in the heart of the lineup Harold Baines Jersey , 2018 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up Juan Soto hit cleanup, and he went 0 for 3.A day after signing a $137.5 million contract, deGrom (1-0) set a major league mark with his 30th consecutive start allowing three runs or fewer. Scherzer (0-1) was charged with both of the Mets’ runs in 7 2/3 innings.They are only the second pair of starters in an opening day game to get double-figure strikeouts. The others: Dave McNally of the Orioles and Sam McDowell of the Indians in 1970.“You can all see what happens,” Washington’s Adam Eaton said, “when two Cy Young winners go head-to-head.”WAY TO GO, ROOKMets 1B Pete Alonso started in his major league debut and went 1 for 4 with a single off RHP Justin Miller in the eighth. “It was awesome. It felt like a big — not a monkey, but a gorilla hopped off my back,” Alonso said.NUMBERSJake Arrieta (2015-16) held the old multiple-season mark of 29 consecutive starts giving up three or fewer runs. … Turner stole three bases. … This was Scherzer’s 83rd career game with at least 10 Ks.UP NEXTMets: RHP Noah Syndergaard will pitch Game 2 on Saturday. He is 0-3 with a 5.79 ERA in five starts at Washington.Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg is 8-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 17 starts against the Mets, his fewest against a division opponent. WASHINGTON (AP) — Not only did the 2018 Washington Nationals fail to get over the hump — despite those infamous camels — they didn’t even make the postseason, let alone finally win a playoff series for the first time.“It’s not something you want to go through,” Bryce Harper said. “You have all the hopes and aspirations to be one of the best teams in baseball in spring training. We did what we could to possibly get there, but we didn’t do enough.”Now the big question looming over the earlier-than-expected offseason becomes whether Harper will leave as a free agent.“Nobody knows if I’m going to be back or nobody knows if I am going to be in a different uniform,” the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year and 2015 NL MVP said. “If something happens, I am not afraid of change.”Plenty of roster shuffling is expected for a club that finished 82-80 for second place in the NL East under rookie manager Dave Martinez after winning two consecutive division titles with the discarded Dusty Baker.Nothing will matter quite as much as what happens with Harper Chris Sale Jersey , who is not only one of the on-field leaders of the Nationals, he is one of the most prominent players in the entire sport.That’s why the slugging outfielder, who posted team highs of 34 homers, 100 RBIs, 103 runs (tied) and 130 walks, should get a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars, perhaps even surpassing the record for the largest deal in baseball history.“With these type of deals you’re talking about, you’re not betting on the baseball player, you’re betting on the person,” general manager Mike Rizzo said. “And he’s a person we’d like to have with us.”A resolution to that, however it goes, would help Rizzo determine what resources he has to use toward all of the other issues that need addressing.“I consider this year an anomaly,” Rizzo said.A look at what else to know about the Nationals as thoughts turn to 2019:INJURIES TO BLAME?Both Rizzo and Martinez — along with some of their players — pointed to injuries as a contributing factor in the disappointing season. 1B Ryan Zimmerman, 2B Daniel Murphy Rusney Castillo Jersey , OF Adam Eaton and C Matt Wieters each played in fewer than 100 games. Key backup Howie Kendrick played in only 40. RHP Stephen Strasburg missed about a third of the season. 3B Anthony Rendon was sideline for a few weeks early on. Closer Sean Doolittle and other members of the bullpen sat out stretches, too. “We were always missing pieces,” Martinez said. “As we (cleared) one hurdle, something happened.”MARTINEZ’S FUTUREThere have been questions about whether Martinez will keep his job. Rizzo has been supportive, although the GM seemed to be in Baker’s corner, too. “We haven’t considered anything else. We think he’s got a firm grasp on the clubhouse. He’s doing a good job in the dugout,” Rizzo said. “I think he’s getting better each and every day, each and every game.” As for what Martinez thinks he might do differently next season? “We’re going to spend a lot more time on just the fundamentals of baseball and doing the little things,” he said. “Because little things, to me, can become really big things.”SCHERZER AND STRASBURG Max Scherzer’s 300 strikeouts, 2.53 ERA, 220 2/3 innings and various other stats showed once again how valuable the righty is. Beyond him and Strasburg, though Brock Holt Jersey , there’s not much there in the rotation. Washington could add at least two, maybe three, starters.SOTO AND ROBLESThe most promising news of 2018 was the discovery of 19-year-old outfielder Juan Soto, the NL Rookie of the Month in June, July and September who finished with a .292 average, 22 homers, 70 RBIs and 79 walks. Only two other teenagers (Harper was one) ever hit 20 HRs in a season. Another young outfielder, 21-year-old Victor Robles, also appears to be a keeper.SO MANY NEEDSThe Nationals must find starters at second base and catcher. They need bullpen help. They need new bench pieces.