WASHINGTON -- Mets right-hander Bartolo Colon spoiled the party for the Nationals on Opening Day at Nationals Park. He dominated for six innings on Monday and helped New York earn a 3-1 win despite an impressive Washington debut by Max Scherzer.Colon allowed one run on three hits and struck out eight batters, and Scherzer wasn't bad either. The Nats' ace struck out eight while allowing four hits in 7 2/3 innings, but two errors by shortstop Ian Desmond led to three unearned runs. 
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Mets take advantage: Scherzer had retired 17 straight and had a no-hitter going when Curtis Granderson walked with two outs in the sixth inning. Then second baseman Dan Uggla appeared to lose David Wright's ensuing popup in the sun, resulting in a fielding error on Desmond, who had ranged over from shortstop but couldn't reel the ball in. The next batter, Lucas Duda, singled home Wright and Granderson to give the Mets their first hit and first runs.Bryce flexes: Hitting third in the lineup, Bryce Harper broke a 0-0 tie in the fourth inning and hit a home run off Colon. It was Harper's third-career Opening Day home run.No timely hitting for Nats: The Nationals were 0-for- 4 with runners in scoring position on Monday. Their biggest chance came in the first inning. They had runners on first and second with no outs. But Harper and Ryan Zimmerman struck out and Wilson Ramos grounded out to end the threat.Five innings later with Colon still on the mound, the Nationals had runners on first and second with two outs when Ramos struck out to end the threat.Age is but a number: With Scherzer's defense sullying his final line, Colon outdueled Washington's ace. The 41-year-old right-hander struck out eight over six innings of one-run ball, the only damage coming on Harper's homer.SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Mets improved to 35-19 all-time on Opening Day, the best mark of any Major League franchise. After losing their first eight Opening Days, the Mets have won 35 of 46.INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT
The Mets freshened up their lineup for the season opener, batting Wright second for just the 16th time in his career. The Mets also used Granderson at leadoff, shifting Juan Lagares down to No. 6. They may continue to use a similar lineup going forward. More »WHAT'S NEXT
Reigning National League Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom will make his first start of 2015 when the Mets and Nats, following an off-day, reconvene at Nationals Park for a 7:05 p.m. ET game on Wednesday. Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann will get the start for Washington.The last time he pitched in a regular-season game, Zimmermann twirled a no-hitter against the Marlins on Sept. 28.
Bill Ladson and Anthony DiComo/ MLB.com
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