By E-Jay Gonzales
EBC Washington DC Bureau

(Eagle News) — Last Thursday, Major League Baseball (MLB) kicked-off the start of the season with a handful of teams scheduled to be featured on “Opening Day.” One of the match-ups included the 2019 World Series Champions Washington Nationals and the New York Mets, but fans’ excitement quickly turned to disappointment after the Opening Game was canceled due to a Covid-outbreak.

The game was supposed to be held at the nation’s capital in Nationals Stadium but, just hours before the game, the MLB learned that three Washington players returned positive tests for Covid-19. At that time, it was not announced which players received a positive test but the Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo mentioned that a 4th Player was also “likely positive.” The team took precaution, as Rizzo said that all team personnel and players were placed in a lockdown and mandated that they would self-quarantine while contact tracing persisted.

The league eventually postponed the National’s series against the Mets all together out of an abundance of caution. The make-up days for this series has yet to be announced.

Nationals fans were hopeful for the team to start their season against the Atlanta Braves the upcoming Monday, but that too was also postponed. However, Tuedsay, the players and fans finally heard the good news that the team would be playing their season opener in Atlanta, with the make-up day of the first postponed game scheduled for tomorrow.

The bad news, however, for Nationals Fans was that ten of their players were put on the Injury List. Patrick Corbin, Jon Lester, Josh Bell, and Kyle Shwarber were among those players listed.

Though shorthanded, Nationals star Juan Soto said that he was just excited to be back on the field and out of the apartment.

Head Coach Dave Martinez said that the roster might not be set, but the players that they have available are ready and able to help and have a good opportunity to play at a high level.

The game was a close contest, with a tie score of 5-5 going into the final-inning. Despite being undermanned, the Nationals pulled the victory over the Atlanta Braves. The final score was 6-5, after a walk-off winning run after a hit by Juan Soto.

(Eagle News Service)