Yankees vs. Nationals score: Gerrit Cole, Bombers take weather-shortened Opening Day matchup

Joe Rivera

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Yankees vs. Nationals score: Gerrit Cole, Bombers take weather-shortened Opening Day matchup image

Nothing about the 2020 MLB season is going to be normal, and if Thursday's Yankees vs. Nationals season opener is any indication, then it's going to be super not normal.

The Yankees took the matchup vs. the Nationals 4-1, but it was a weather-shortened game, called in the top of the sixth inning after a two-hour rain delay. Gerrit Cole looked the part, throwing five innings of one-run, one-hit ball with five strikeouts and a walk in his pinstriped debut. 

Earlier on Opening Day, news broke that Nats star outfielder Juan Soto tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). Soto, whose test results came back positive after he was tested two days ago, practiced with the team on the day between, calling into question whether he spread the virus to his teammates.

Soto's positive test paints a harrowing picture of what may be a futile attempt at an MLB season: While it's appreciated and noble that players will attempt to play, the dangerous effects of the coronavirus may be more than the sport bargained for.

MORE: SN exclusive — An interview with an infectious disease specialist on 2020 MLB season

In case you forgot, the Nats are beginning their quest to defend their World Series championship, a title miraculously won in seven games vs. the Astros some 47 years ago when Major League Baseball was last played. The Yankees, coming off an ALCS defeat to the Astros, went shopping in the high end of town and came back with Cole, arguably the greatest free-agent pitcher in baseball history.

What's sure to be a wacky, weird, uncomfortable — and maybe even fun — MLB season got underway Thursday. Sporting News had all the pitches for the 2020 MLB season opener covered below.

(All times Eastern.)

Yankees vs. Nationals live score

Yankees 4, Nationals 1

10:52 p.m. END OF GAME: Welp, that's anti-climactic. The game has been called because of inclement whether, and the Yankees take the season opener 4-1.

10:37 p.m.:  Not good news! Tarp back on the field in D.C.

10:26 p.m.: Good news! Tarp is coming off the field in D.C. This one looks like it'll be finished.

10:15 p.m.: Rain in Washington has reportedly stopped, but not much of anything happening in D.C. at the moment.

8:54 p.m. RAIN DELAY: Unfortunately, this game is heading to a weather delay with showers hovering over Washington. Yankees are up 4-1, and a reminder that this game will be concluded even though it is official after five innings.

8:44 p.m. END OF FIFTH INNING: Cole strikes out Robles to end the fifth inning. So far, the new Yankees ace looks as advertised. 

8:33 p.m.: Gardner strikes out to leave the bases loaded. The Yankees score one.

8:30 p.m. YANKEES SCORING PLAY: Giancarlo Stanton laces a hard-hit single to right field, plating Gio Urshela. Yankees up 4-1 in the fifth. Bases loaded, two outs.

8:22 p.m.: Runners on first and second, no outs to start the fifth after Tyler Wade bunts for a single.

8:17 p.m. END OF FOURTH INNING: Cole just working through the Nats now, getting Eric Thames to fly out to center to end the inning. Cole has allowed one hit, the home run to Eaton, tonight.

8:08 p.m.: Scherzer gets Sanchez swinging for his seventh K of the night.

8:03 p.m. END OF THIRD INNING: Adam Eaton flies out to right field to end the home half.

7:56 p.m.: Stanton strikes out to end the away half of the inning. Yankees score another to lengthen their lead.

7:53 p.m. YANKEES SCORING PLAY: Aaron Judge laces a ball to left field. Tyler Wade, flying around the bases, scores from first. Yankees up 3-1. 

7:51 p.m.: Tyler Wade walks to start the inning, Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge up next.

7:45 p.m. END OF SECOND INNING: Cole climbs the ladder to get another strikeout, working around the leadoff HBP.

7:38 p.m.: Home half of the second underway, and Cole drills Eric Thames. 

7:33 p.m.: Scherzer with three straight strikeouts after getting Luke Voit swinging. 

END OF FIRST INNING: Cole gets a very generous strike call on Howie Kendrick to end the home half. Yankees up 2-1 entering the second.

7:26 p.m. NATIONALS SCORING PLAY: Aaaaand it's gone. Adam Eaton clobbers a pitch to right field, cutting into the Yankee lead. 2-1 Yankees.

7:25 p.m.: Gerrit Cole looks sharp early on. Oh, yeah, he's a Yankee now, in case you forgot.

7:16 p.m. YANKEES SCORING PLAY: Giancarlo Stanton absolutely demolishes a Max Scherzer pitch, giving the Bombers a 2-0 lead. New York leads 2-0.

7:12 p.m.: Judge laces a single to left, for the first hit of the 2020 season.

7:09 p.m.: First pitch from Scherzer is a ball, and we have baseball in 2020.

7 p.m.: Prior to the start of the game, Yankees and Nationals players and staff all took a knee before the start of the national anthem. All members also held a black cloth, whatever that means.

6:53 p.m.: Here's the lineups for the Yankees and Nats tonight as we — finally — get ready for some baseball:

Joe Rivera

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Joe Rivera is in his seventh year with The Sporting News, handling NFL, MLB and some things pro wrestling. A proud-ish Rutgers University graduate, Rivera combines a new-school flair with an old-school soul. He loves dingers, wrestling, comic books, movies, music and really bad puns. He is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater.

You can find him and tweet him @JoeRiveraSN, if you're into that sort of thing.