Murphy Leads Nationals Over Cardinals, MLB Roundup

By ESPN

The Washington Nationals are no longer shocked by the kind of offensive performance Daniel Murphy gave on Tuesday night.

Amazed, maybe. But not shocked.

In his latest impressive game, Murphy homered, doubled twice and tied career highs with five RBI and four hits to help the Nationals to an 8-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

"Is he really surprising you?" Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez said. "He's unreal. Right now he's a human torch. You can't touch him."

Matt Wieters and Jayson Werth also hit solo shots as Washington followed up a 14-6 series opening win Monday with another onslaught.

It was more than enough support for Gonzalez (1-0), who allowed two runs -- one earned -- over seven innings and retired his last 11 batters.

His first clean inning came after Wieters' and Werth's solo shots gave Washington a 4-2 lead in the fourth. His second after Murphy blasted a two-run shot off Lance Lynn into the upper deck to make it 6-2 in the fifth.

"Gio's had a little trouble in the past with the shutdown inning after we score," Nationals manager Dusty Baker. "And he gave up the one and didn't give them any more. And then he shut them down the rest of the way."

Murphy is batting .472 with five doubles, two homers and an MLB-leading 17 hits in the cleanup spot. This after he finished second in the 2016 NL MVP race with a .347 average, 25 homers and 104 RBI in his first season in Washington.

"He's talking about the craziest stuff I've ever heard of before," Werth said of Muprhy's approach. "I try not to listen to him, but it's working for him. ... If I tried to do that I might never get a hit."

Murphy pointed out that Nats' No. 3 hitter Bryce Harper is almost equally hot. Harper walked three times against Lynn to reach base in nine straight plate appearances going back to Monday. He later doubled.

"You look at the at-bats that Bryce is having -- three walks tonight and a double down the left-field line (tonight)," Murphy said. "He's so dangerous right now."

Lynn (0-1) allowed six runs -- four earned -- and five hits and four walks over five innings. Randal Grichuk and Aldemys Diaz homered for St. Louis, and Jose Martinez went 2 for 4 in his first start.

"You look at their lineup and they're all going about as good as they can go," Lynn said. "When you see that lineup you know that they're capable of that. I made three mistakes and it cost my three home runs."

Indians 2, White Sox 1

Michael Brantley pumped his fist, danced around second base and waited for the traditional soaking.

The water was as sweet as any champagne.

Brantley, forced to the outside during Cleveland's magical ride in 2016 because of injuries, doubled home Francisco Lindor with two outs in the 10th inning as the Indians celebrated their AL championship and then beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1 on Tuesday in their home opener.

Brantley could only watch and cheer for his teammates last October after undergoing two surgeries on his right shoulder. But he's healthy now, and after playing in just 11 games last season, Brantley made the most of his first home game since May 10 with his game-winning hit.

"I don't know if you can write it up any better," he said.

Lindor walked with two outs off Tommy Kahnle (0-1) before Brantley sliced a 3-2 pitch down the left-field line. Lindor was running on the pitch and scored easily before bolting toward second to join his teammates in celebrating along with Brantley, who has overcome major obstacles in the past year.

"It was awesome," said Lindor, who homered in the first. "I was so happy for him. As soon as I touched home plate, I looked around and everyone was clapping for him, his family in the stands, it was pretty cool, special.

"He's back. Brantley's back."

It was the dramatic ending the Indians didn't get in their last home game, a 10-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs in Game 7 of the World Series. Cleveland led the majors with 11 walk-off wins last season.

Bryan Shaw (1-0), who took the loss when the Cubs won their first title in 108 years, got the win.

Rookie Yandy Diaz should have been given a save after making a diving catch of Tyler Saladino's line drive in the eighth with the game tied and runners at second and third.

"I can't tell you what happened, because the ball just went into my glove," Diaz said. "I saw that the ball was in my glove when I got up off the ground."

Tuesday, April 11 Scoreboard

Detroit 2, Minnesota 1

Cleveland 2, Chicago White Sox 1 (F/10)

Washington 8, St. Louis 3

New York Mets 14, Philadelphia 4

Cincinnati 6, Pittsburgh 2

Milwaukee 4, Toronto 3

Boston 8, Baltimore 1

Miami 8, Atlanta 4

Colorado 3, San Diego 2

Los Angeles Angels 6, Texas 5 (F/10)

Houston 7, Seattle 5

Arizona 4, San Francisco 3

Wednesday, April 12 Schedule (All Times Central)

Tampa Bay at New York Yankees, 12:05 p.m.

Minnesota at Detroit, 12:10 p.m.

San Diego at Colorado, 2:10 p.m.

St. Louis at Washington, 3:05 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Cleveland, 5:10 p.m.

New York Mets at Philadephia, 6:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m.

Milwaukee at Toronto, 6:07 p.m

Baltimore at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

Oakland at Kansas City, 7:15 p.m.

Texas at Los  Angeles Angels, 9:07 p.m.

Houston at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.

Arizona at San Francisco, 9:15 p.m.