Adams' blast leads early offensive barrage (Nats win 13-7)

CINCINNATI - Matt Adams is making the most of his first start with the Nationals.

Given a chance to bat cleanup on the second day of the season with Ryan Zimmerman on the bench, Adams launched a three-run homer into the far reaches of the right-center field bleachers at Great American Ball Park. That first-inning blast, which measured 460 feet, gave the Nationals an early lead over the Reds, which they went on to extend to 5-0 in the fourth inning.

With two on and one out in the top of the first, Adams crushed a 97-mph fastball from right-hander Luis Castillo deep to right-center. The ball landed about two-thirds of the way up the bleachers, then caromed toward the top row, nearly leaving the stadium altogether.

It was a momentous debut for Adams, who did strike out in a ninth-inning pinch-hit appearance Friday but got his first start this afternoon. Manager Davey Martinez said he wanted to give the big slugger a chance to contribute early and not waste away on the bench, even though Zimmerman was physically fine to play 24 hours after his season debut.

Adams' blast has been the biggest of the afternoon for the Nationals but hardly the only one. Trea Turner, once again batting sixth, led off the top of the fourth with a home run to left, reaching the second deck for his first hit of the young season.

The Nats also scored in the top of the third via an Adam Eaton double, Anthony Rendon single and Bryce Harper sacrifice fly.

Afforded the luxury of pitching with a lead since he took the mound, Stephen Strasburg is opening his season on a positive note. After pitching out of a first-inning jam - thanks to a nifty scoop-and-shovel by Adams at first base, Strasburg proceeded to retire 10 batters in a row. Scott Schebler finally snapped the streak by lofting a first-pitch fastball into the first row of the right field stands in the bottom of the fourth, the first run allowed by the Nationals pitching staff in 13 innings to begin the season.

Update: Eaton is having himself some start to the season. He's now 3-for-3 with two doubles and three runs today, making him 4-for-6 with a .714 on-base percentage and .857 slugging percentage on the young season. He also has scored four runs in 14 innings. Not bad. Nats lead 6-1 in the sixth.

Update II: And Eaton isn't done yet. He just homered to leave himself 4-for-4 with nine total bases and four runs scored on the day. He's a triple shy of the cycle. And he's now 5-for-7 on the young season. What a story. Strasburg, meanwhile, nearly got into a major disaster in the sixth after Turner booted an easy double-play grounder. Two runs eventually scored, but Strasburg escaped with two still left in scoring position. So it's 7-3 Nats at the stretch.

Update III: Eaton still isn't done. He came up with the bases loaded in the eighth and delivered a two-run single, making him 5-for-5 with 10 total bases today. Matt Grace did serve up a two-run homer to Adam Duvall in the bottom of the eighth, but the Nats will take a 9-5 lead into the ninth.

Update IV: As if there wasn't enough offensive might in this game for the Nats, how about a Brian Goodwin grand slam? Yep, that was the cherry on top of today's 13-7 victory. The Nationals did it all today, and they'll now go for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon.