WASHINGTON — All it took was two at-bats on his first Opening Day in the majors for Bryce Harper to hit two homers — and hear some “M-V-P!” chants.
The Nationals’ other recent No. 1 overall draft pick, Stephen Strasburg, did his part, too, getting 19 consecutive outs at one stretch of his seven scoreless innings in a 2-0 victory over the Marlins yesterday.
“You couldn’t draw it up any better,” first baseman Adam LaRoche said. “And to have the two youngsters go out, do what they did? … Let Harper and Stras go to work. They didn’t need us.”
Harper, the 20-year-old left fielder coming off NL Rookie of the Year honors, hit solo shots over the out-of-town scoreboard in right-center field off Ricky Nolasco in the first and fourth innings. He sprinted around the bases both times, and after his second trip, he climbed back out of the dugout for a curtain call, pumping his right fist.
“You just shake your head in amazement,” new Nationals center fielder Denard Span said. “He’s just writing a book right now.”
It was Harper’s first taste of a season’s start in the big leagues; he began last year in the minors before getting called up later in April.
“Pretty special moment,” Harper said. “If I was 0-for-4, or 4-for-4, it wouldn’t have mattered to me. Just going out there having some fun on Opening Day for the first time.”