Fedde starts quickly, so does offense (Nats win 9-2)

The Nationals were the ones that came up with the early offense against the Yankees Saturday night.

Starlin Castro drilled an opposite-field two-out triple off of left-hander James Paxton in the first inning, but Howie Kendrick flew out to center field to end the threat.

But in the second inning, the Nats reeled off four consecutive hits to send Paxton to the showers.

Asdrúbal Cabrera, Kurt Suzuki and Carter Kieboom started the inning with back-to-back-to-back singles. Kieboom fought back from an 0-2 count to go full before getting enough of the Paxton pitch to hit into the hole between first and second. With the bases loaded and no out, Victor Robles drilled a two-run double down the left field line to open the scoring. Michael A. Taylor walked and Paxton's night ended after he faced five batters in the second inning.

Facing right-hander Michael King, Trea Turner grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to score Kieboom and make it 3-0 Nats.

Erick Fedde came out of the blocks fast for the Nats, consistently hitting 94-95 mph and getting to two strikes on most batters. He was commanding his fastball well, getting ahead of most hitters. But four errors by his defense allowed the Yankees chances to score.

He struck out Aaron Judge in the first inning, then Aaron Hicks and Luke Voit (looking) in the second.

In the third inning, Turner's two errors on one play allowed Gio Urshela to reach second base. After a flyout, he came home on a DJ LeMahieu single.

After three innings, the Nats lead the Yankees 3-1.

Update: In the fourth, Giancarlo Stanton crushed a 3-0 Fedde pitch deep over the left-center field wall. His second homer in as many games left Nats Park with an exit velocity of 121.3 mph, second fastest since Statcast. Stanton hit a homer off of the Rangers' Ariel Jurado on Aug. 9, 2018, with an exit velocity of 121.7 mph.

Mid-fourth, the Nats lead the Yankees 3-2.

Update II: Robles drove a two-run shot off the left field foul pole for his first home run of the season, extending the Nats' lead. He has four RBIs on the night and is 2-for-2. He had five RBIs versus the Marlins on September 26, 2018.

Tanner Rainey replaced Fedde to begin the fifth. Fedde did quite well replacing Stephen Strasburg (nerve impingement, right wrist) on short notice, allowing only one earned run in four innings with three strikeouts, one walk and four hits. He fired 68 pitches, 42 for strikes, and endured four fielding errors behind him.

Mid-fifth, the Nats lead the Yankees 5-2.

Update III: The Nats added to their advantage when Howie Kendrick hit a ground-rule double that bounced in center field and over the wall, scoring Adam Eaton. Then following a pitching change, Cabrera brought Kendrick home with a double of his own. Cabrera is 2-for-2 with a run scored.

After five innings, the Nats lead the Yankees 7-2.

Update IV: Cabrera having the night with the bat and glove. The third baseman smacked a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh, high over the right field wall. It was his first homer of the season. Cabrera and Robles each need a triple to complete the cycle. They both have three hits on the night.

Ryne Harper struck out four in two shutout innings for an outstanding Nats debut.

After seven innings, the Nats lead the Yankees 8-2.

Update V: Michael A. Taylor crushed a solo shot to left field with one-out in the bottom of the eighth, his first of the year. The Nats hit three homers tonight.

Kyle Finnegan made his major league debut with a scoreless ninth inning, despite committing a fielding error and allowing a base hit. A 6-4-3 double play ended it.

The Nats get their first win of the season, 9-2 over the Yankees.