NATS FINALLY PLAY, EARN VICTORY

For all he’s already done — youngest NL batting champion in history, World Series champion, runner-up for Rookie of the Year, popular pick for 2021 MVP — Juan Soto never had produced a game-ending hit.

Until Tuesday. Until the coronavirus-depleted Washington Nationals finally started their season, five days later than scheduled because of an outbreak that involved 11 players. Until Soto stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with the scored tied, two men aboard and what up to then was an 0-for-4 day, and watched three straight balls go by from lefty reliever Will Smith.

“I would have been real upset,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said, “if he took a 3-0 strike.”

Soto did not, of course. Instead, the 22-year-old lashed a line drive to center field for the first walk-off hit of his quite-accomplished-yet-still-nascent major league career, providing Washington with a 6-5 comeback victory over the NL East rival Atlanta Braves.

“You hate to see him in that situation,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker, whose team is 0-4. “He’s just something else, that kid.”

Soto tossed his red helmet high in the air before being mobbed by teammates who sprinted from the home dugout to meet him near second base, jumping and shouting and dousing him with water.

Quite a finish for the Nationals, whose day did not begin auspiciously.

It began with 10 players getting put on the 10-day injured list as their season finally got going.

Because of a COVID-19 outbreak — four players tested positive; seven were forced into quarantine after potentially being exposed — Washington’s first four scheduled games were scrapped, including three at home against the Mets, followed by Monday against the Braves.

Notable

Infielder Rougned Odor was traded from the Rangers to the Yankees for minor league outfielders Antonio Cabello and Josh Stowers.

• Left-hander James Paxton departed the first start of his second stint with the Mariners with discomfort in his pitching elbow.