With a home run and four runs by Victor Robles, the reigning Major League Baseball champions Washington Nationals defeated the New York Yankees 9-2 to get revenge for Thursday’s loss in the season opener.
The Nationals had to overcome five errors and the last-minute absence of their star pitcher, Stephen Strasburg.
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the last World Series could not play due to a nerve problem in his pitching hand.
In place of Strasburg was lined up Erick Fedde, who allowed a pair of runs in four innings, including the second homer near Giancarlo Stanton.
Instead, Victor Robles emerged as the reigning champion’s hero with three hits in four at-bats in an empty Nationals Park.
In another of the day’s standout games, the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs 8-3 in a tense matchup that saw home runs by Justin Smoak and Christian Yelich.
At the Wrigley Field in Chicago, the absence of spectators allowed the shouts of the players to be heard from the caves of the two teams, rivals of the National League Central, before the start of the fourth inning.
With the numerous security measures put in place by Major League Baseball in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, umpires acted to keep players on their side of the field.
“I think this is going to be a part of this season,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Both benches can hear each other and the referees can hear everything. There are conversations during the game that are not heard when there are fans. It’s just part of the game.
Cubs manager David Ross said the absence of spectators will mean that teammates’ chatter can be overheard by rivals.
“I think if you’re on the bench now in this environment, you have to expect some of that,” Ross said. “This is going to stir up some intensity.”
In the game, Smoak and Yelich hit their first home runs of the season, and Ben Gamel added a two-run triple for Milwaukee. AFP (HN).