It started innocently enough. It was even a bit tense! Aaron Nola made his first start of the year, returning to the mound after injury derailed the second half of his 2016 season. Trea Turner reached on an infield single and stole second, and then Adam Eaton walked. After Bryce Harper flew out after shaving a good Nola curveball, Daniel Murphy singled to load the bases. Sure, fine, there’s probably some rust and trepidation on Nola’s part. Wouldn’t you be tentative?
Then Ryan Zimmerman hit into a 5-3 double play - thanks in part to a stellar display of arm strength by Maikel Franco - and the beast was unleashed.