WASHINGTON – Juan Soto had several hits to brag about. He is the youngest batting champion in history in the National League, won a World Series, was second in the voting for the Rookie of the Year and garnered quite a bit of support for the 2021 Most Valuable Player award.
But he had never connected a hit that ended a game. He made it on Tuesday, the day the Nationals finally kicked off their season, five days later than expected, following a coronavirus outbreak that involved 11 players.
Soto towed the lead for a single in the ninth inning, and the Nationals, despite being decimated by COVID-19, bounced back and beat the Atlanta Braves 6-5.
Left-back Will Smith climbed the mound at the bottom of the ninth inning and immediately allowed a single to Dominican Victor Robles, who now serves as first bat.
Smith then delivered a ball to Trea Turner. Dominican Soto, the National League batting champion in 2020, came next, then went 4-0 up.
He saw three balls in a row.
“I would have been very upset if he let a 3-0 strike pass,” said Nationals Boricua manager Dave Martinez.
Soto did not. Rather he hit a lineazo in center field.
He threw his helmet before being congratulated by his companions, who ran from the cave and found him near the middle to hug him and throw water at him.
They also celebrated the 4,801 fans. There had been no crowd in the National Park bleachers since the fifth game of the 2019 World Series.
The Braves were instead frustrated.
“We hate to see him in that situation,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Soto, the Braves have a 0-4 record. “This guy is special.”
For the Braves, the Venezuelan Ronald Acuña Jr. of 5-2 with two scored-three driven. Dominican Marcell Ozuna 3-1. Sunday Cristian Pache 4-1.
For the Nationals, the Dominicans Victor Robles 3-1 with two scored, Soto 5-1 with a tow, Starlin Castro 4-1. Venezuelan Hernán Pérez 3-1 with a score. The Cuban Yadiel Hernández 1-0.