WASHINGTON — Robinson Cano had greater than a yr to work on his bunting.
Whether or not or not that’s actually one thing he practiced throughout his season-long suspension, it certain regarded that manner Thursday when Cano easily dropped down a shift-beating operating bunt that began a tiebreaking two-run rally to gasoline the Mets’ 5-1 victory towards the Nationals.
“One of many largest components of the sport was Robby’s leadoff bunt,” supervisor Buck Showalter mentioned. “Isn’t it humorous how good issues appear to observe issues like that?”
A shock insertion into the Opening Day lineup with Brandon Nimmo (stiff neck) sidelined, Cano scored two runs in his first MLB motion since Sept. 27, 2020. Two months later, he was suspended for all the 2021 season — the penalty for a second profession constructive check for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
Batting sixth and beginning at second base because the left-handed hitter chosen over Dominic Smith to face southpaw Patrick Corbin, Cano may need gained again a couple of followers by executing the play purists scream for on a regular basis. With three infielders on the appropriate facet and the third baseman’s heels at shortstop, Cano pushed a tough bunt exactly to the vacated nook spot.
“In the event that they’re going to play like that this yr,” Cano instructed The Publish, “I’m going to take that single.”
The Mets adopted with a stroll, a single through which Cano didn't check middle fielder Victor Robles’ arm and successful by pitch with the bases loaded and no outs to attain the sport’s first run.
Cano, 39, was within the thick of issues when the Mets doubled their result in 4-0 within the sixth. He prolonged what appeared like a innocent menace by strolling to place two on with two outs, forward of back-to-back RBI singles by Mark Canha and Jeff McNeil.
“It was thrilling to be again and spend time with the blokes,” Cano mentioned. “And win the primary recreation.”
Perhaps it shouldn’t have been a shock after he hit .360 over eight Grapefruit League video games, however Cano went 2-for-3 (leadoff single within the eighth) earlier than he was pulled for a pinch runner.
With Starling Marte, Eduardo Escobar and Canha as recent faces within the lineup, Cano represented a throwback to a disappointing period earlier than proprietor Steve Cohen, basic supervisor Billy Eppler and Showalter arrived.
Cano got here via in a return considerably overshadowed by different storylines, although not with the ability hitting that he made his pinstripes signature. He as soon as bunted for a double in a 2013 Yankees-Crimson Sox recreation.
“I used to be quick again then,” Cano quipped.
Cano, who will play some first base this season, additionally helped Tylor Megill escape one of many two jams he confronted throughout 5 scoreless innings when he scooped up a grounder shifting to his proper and touched the second-base bag to strand runners on the corners within the third. He later couldn’t come up cleanly with an analogous play, although it was dominated successful.
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