New York Mets Capitalize On Mistakes, Defeat Washington Nationals 3-1

W: Colon (1-0, 1.50) L: Scherzer (0-1, 0.00)

SV: Carlyle (1)

WSH HR: Harper (1)

WASHINGTON D.C. - All the hype heading into Spring Training and the beginning of the season was on the Washington Nationals not only being the favorites to win the NL East, but also the World Series. Apparently, the New York Mets weren't made aware of these predictions as they didn't look intimated by the team who dominated them all last season, and only got better with the acquisition of Max Scherzer. Today, facing the new $200 million dollar man Scherzer, the Mets, behind Bartolo Colon and the bullpen, defeated the Nationals 3-1.

Max Scherzer led off the game giving up a walk to Curtis Granderson but after that, he was unhittable. Scherzer retired the next 17 batters he faced after the lead-off walk, ironically ending that streak when he walked Granderson again with two outs in the 6th inning.

In that 6th inning after the Granderson walk, David Wright came up to bat and hit a high pop fly in shallow right field. Second-baseman Dan Uggla seemed to have called it but shortstop Ian Desmond came way out of his position, calling off Uggla and the ball dropped onto the grass. Hustling around the bases with two outs, Granderson reached 3rd base and Wright made it safely into 2nd.

This brought Lucas Duda to the plate who with two strikes got a high 98 mph fastball that he drove into right field, giving the Mets their first hit of the game along with a 2-1 lead. Both runs the Mets scored this inning were unearned.

Scherzer came out in the top of the 7th inning getting Daniel Murphy to fly out to center field but Juan Lagares came up next and hit a shot to shortstop Ian Desmond who threw low to first base, allowing Lagares to reach safely on the error. A few moments later Travis d'Arnaud drove a pitch off of the center field wall, scoring Lagares from first base and giving the Mets a 3-1 lead off from another unearned run.

Bartolo Colon, the 41 year old ageless wonder, was unbelievable today. Much heat came over Mets' manager Terry Collins for not starting one of his young flamethrowers on Opening Day, but Colon made him look like a genius. Colon struck eight hitters only allowing three hits and one walk. His only blemish was a 4th inning home run to Nationals' Bryce Harper who took his fastball into the right field stands that gave Washington their only run of the game.

Much talk was made of the New York Mets' rotation and if they are going to make the playoffs it will be on the heels of that. Colon, today, showed a glimpse of what this rotation as a whole is capable of. Carlos Torres along with Jeurys Familia, newcomer Jerry Blevins, and Buddy Carlyle started the season right where the bullpen left off in 2014; solid.

Max Scherzer proved that he is worth every penny the Nationals' spent on him this offseason today, but the defense couldn't back him up. He threw 5 2/3 no-hit innings, struck out eight hitters, and only gave up two walks.

Buddy Carlyle come into the 9th inning for the Mets with one out and secured his first career save.

Both the New York Mets and Washington Nationals will square off again on Wednesday. Jacob deGrom will take the mound for the Mets against Jordan Zimmerman for the Nationals.