Murphy raking Cards, Gonzalez solid (Nationals win 8-3)

The Cardinals were able to generate offense against Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez in their first at-bat.

Dexter Fowler doubled to deep left. Aledmys Diaz popped out to Ryan Zimmerman. But when Zimmerman exchanged the ball out of his glove, he dropped it. Fowler raced to third base.

Yadier Molina then provided a sac fly RBI to center field, and Fowler scored. The Cardinals lead 1-0.

Cardinals starter Lance Lynn has not allowed a Nationals base hit in the first two frames.

Gonzalez battled through the third, allowing a single and a hit-by-pitch, but was able to retire Stephen Piscotty and Jedd Gyorko to end the frame.

Heading to the bottom of the third, the Cardinals lead the Nationals 1-0.

Update: The Nationals finally got to Lance Lynn in the third. With one out, Gonzalez walked. He ended up on second after a poor decision by Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Díaz. Díaz's throw was too late to nab Gonzalez on Adam Eaton's grounder. Everyone was safe. With two outs, Bryce Harper was walked again.

Daniel Murphy arrived and lined a two-run single down the right field line. The Nationals lead 2-1. Murphy has an eight-game hit streak to begin the season, the longest such hitting streak to start a campaign in his career.

In the top of the fourth, the Cardinals tied the game on a Randal Grichuk solo homer over the right-center field fence. After three and a half innings, the game is tied, 2-2.

Update II: In the fourth, Jayson Werth launched a solo shot off of Lance Lynn to put the Nationals back in the lead. The homer brought back memories of Werth's walk-off homer against Lynn in the 2012 postseason. One out later, Matt Wieters crushed a solo homer over the right field wall. It was his first homer in a Nats uniform.

With Bryce Harper on via walk, Murphy homered.

The Nationals lead 6-2 after five innings.

Update III: Murphy doubled to lead off the seventh. He scored on single by Zimmerman and a fielding error by Diaz.

Gonzalez finished seven strong innings. At one point, he had retired 11 consecutive Cardinals. Gonzalez scattered six hits, allowing two runs, only one earned run, with no walks and six strikeouts. He hit a batter and allowed one homer, finishing with 103 pitches, 67 for strikes. In two starts, Gonzalez has allowed only one intentional walk.

A Díaz homer in the 8th inning made it 7-3 Nats.

Update IV: With an RBI double in the eighth, Murphy finsihed with four hits and five RBIs, both career-high tying marks.

Blake Treinen pitched a scoreless ninth.

The Nationals defeat the Cardinals, 8-3.