#TBT to "Nationals Classics": Murphy has career night in rout of Cardinals

Daniel Murphy, runner-up for the 2016 National League MVP, silenced critics early in the 2017 campaign when he hit safely in the first 10 games of the season with a .444/.457/.711 slash line. At the time, his 10 games were tied for the longest streak in the majors in 2017 and it was the longest such streak to start a season in his career.

We turn to Bob Carpenter (@scorebook_bob) to give you a recap of one of Murphy's best games during his outstanding start to the season, the Nationals' April 11 contest against the Cardinals:

Murph goes 4 for 5 and drives in 5!
WSH 8 STL 3 April 11 pic.twitter.com/JCaVKK5vgr

-- Bob Carpenter (@scorebook_bob) October 30, 2017

That Nats slugger went 4-for-5, including a two-run homer, with nine total bases and matched his career high with five RBIs. He finished just a triple shy of the cycle leading the Nats to an 8-3 victory over the Cardinals at Nats Park. Check out his postgame interview with MASN's Dan Kolko:

In the six days we have left until Nats pitchers and catchers report to West Palm Beach, sit back and catch up on these "Nationals Classics" on MASN:

Thursday, Feb. 8, 9 a.m. - The Nats were down to their final out against the Braves on Sept. 4, 2015. Tied 2-2 in the 10th inning, Michael A. Taylor came through with a pinch-hit walk-off three-run homer (say that five times fast) to win 5-2.

Thursday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m. - Remember the Nats' home run derby against the Brewers? Here's what they accomplished in that July 27 contest:

* Tied a franchise record with eight home runs in a 15-2 rout
* Hit four straight dingers in a five-homer third inning
* It was the eighth time a team homered back-to-back-to-back-to-back
* It was the sixth time a team homered five times in one inning
* Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman each hit a pair of homers
* Max Scherzer recorded his 200th strikeout for the sixth consecutive season (and on his 33rd birthday!)

Friday, Feb. 9, 1:30 p.m. - Speaking of Scherzer, we have a few Mad Max moments coming up this week worth the watch. First, watch as he tosses the second no-hitter in Nationals history while striking out 10 on June 20, 2015 against the Pirates.

Monday, Feb. 12, 9 a.m. - Next up, Scherzer threw his second no-hitter of the 2015 season on Oct. 3 against the Mets. He fanned a team-record 17 batters (including nine straight) and only one batter reached base against D.C.'s ironman.

Tuesday, Feb. 13, noon - And last but not least, Mad Max also joined an exclusive club on May 11, 2016 when he tamed the Tigers lineup with 20 strikeouts. He became the fourth pitcher in major league history to strike out 20 batters in a nine-inning game, joining Randy Johnson (May 8, 2001), Kerry Wood (May 6, 1998) and Roger Clemens (Sept. 18, 1996 and April 29,1986)

Thursday, Feb. 15, 11 a.m. - Behind Harper's two home runs and Stephen Strasburg's 19 consecutive outs over seven shutout innings, the Nats beat the Marlins for an epic opening day victory in 2013.