Desmond's errors cost Scherzer lead (Nats fall 3-1)

Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer is breezing through his first opening day start of his career. The only blemish is a leadoff walk to Mets right fielder Curtis Granderson to start the game. Otherwise, Scherzer has been unhittable, pitching five scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

Right fielder Bryce Harper reintroduced himself to Mets starter Bartolo Colon with a monstrous solo blast to deep right-center field to lead off the fourth. It's Harper's third opening day homer of his career, most in Nats history. The previous two came in 2013.

The Nats threatened in the first after center fielder Michael A. Taylor singled and third baseman Yunel Escobar reached on an error. But back-to-back strikeouts from Harper and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman and a groundout from catcher Wilson Ramos ended the threat.

Zimmerman flashed some leather in the fourth, taking possible extra bases away from Mets third baseman David Wright. On a hot smash down the line, Zimmerman dove to his left to make a nice grab behind the bag, got to his feet and beat Wright to the bag.

Update: Scherzer was rolling through the sixth when he gave up a two-out walk to Granderson. Wright then lifted a high pop to shallow right field. As Nats second baseman Dan Uggla backed up underneath the ball, shortstop Ian Desmond called him off. Desmond lunged for the ball, but it glanced off his glove. Granderson advanced to third while Wright took second on the error charged to Desmond. One batter later, first baseman Lucas Duda came up with the Mets' first hit of the game, a single to right plating both Granderson and Wright for a 2-1 Mets lead.

Desmond had four errors in just 19 exhibition games as the Nats struggled defensively as a team throughout the spring.

Both runs were unearned against Scherzer, who's allowed just the one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts through six innings.

Harper singled for the Nats' third hit and Zimmerman walked in the sixth, but Colon got Ramos swinging to end the inning.

The Mets lead the Nats 2-1 in the seventh.

Update II: With one out in the Mets seventh, center fielder Juan Lagares reached on Desmond's throwing error and scored on a triple to center by catcher Travis d'Arnaud for a 3-1 Mets lead.

Today's attendance: 42,295. It's a sellout.

Update III: Scherzer's regular season debut for the Nationals was spectacular. He allowed four hits, three runs (none earned), walked two and struck out eight in 7 2/3 innings. But his defense failed him in a 3-1 loss.