#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Harper and Trout put on a show in L.A.

As we continue our Throwback Thursday posts, we'll defer to Bob Carpenter and his handy-dandy scorebook for this week's memorable moment from last season.

We rarely get to see two of the best players in baseball go head to head, with Bryce Harper playing in the National League East and Mike Trout in the American League West. But the stars aligned - so to speak - in 2017 as the former MVPs met in, where else, the City of Angels for a two-game set.

And, boy, did they put on a show from the get-go.

Harper and Trout traded home runs in their first at-bats in the first inning, a story not even Hollywood could write. The Nationals star went on to have a 4-for-4 night, finishing a double shy of the cycle with an RBI and two runs scored.

The Nationals pitching staff then stepped in to deliver a win for the good guys. In his first start of his second go-around with the Nats, Edwin Jackson delivered seven innings of two-run ball. Then newly-acquired Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle closed the door for a 4-3 win in the series opener.

Harper and Trout go deep first times up, Rendon and Lind homer and EJ dominates in return to Nats rotation. WSH 4 LAA 3 July 18 pic.twitter.com/7gk3j5YROZ

-- Bob Carpenter (@scorebook_bob) January 8, 2018

Be sure to give Bob a follow on Twitter (@scorebook_bob) for more of his favorite Nationals moments in his scorebook.

You can also check out these "Nationals Classics" on MASN this week:

Thursday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. - Harper flashed his defensive skills with an impressive one-handed catch on May 2, 2012 against the Diamondbacks. Ian Desmond then came up clutch with a double for a 5-4 walk-off victory.

Friday, Jan. 12, 12:30 p.m. - Jayson Werth made a heads-up play to walk off the Cubs by stealing home on a wild pitch in the 10th inning on July 4, 2011.

Sunday, Jan. 14, 2 p.m. - In a back-and-forth affair that took 12 innings, Werth finally came up clutch with an RBI single to walk off the Cubs in an instant classic at Nats Park on June 15, 2016.

Monday, Jan. 15, 9 a.m. - A classic edition of the Beltway Series took place on May 23, 2010. After the Orioles scored two runs to tie the game in the ninth inning, Josh Willingham crushed a walk-off homer in the 10th for a 4-3 win.

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 1 p.m. - Adam Dunn put on a show at Nats Park on July 7, 2010. He crushed three home runs against the Padres to carry the Nats to a 7-6 victory.