WASHINGTON — After the rain stopped, the players waved, the flag unfurled and the anthem played, the New York Mets did Thursday what they so often do on Opening Day: win.
They began a new season by beating the Washington Nationals, 5-1, behind five shutout innings from impromptu game-one starter Tylor Megill and a well-rounded offensive effort that included at least one hit from eight of nine starting batters — and the ninth, James McCann, reached base twice when he was hit by pitches.
That upped the Mets’ all-time Opening Day record to 40-21. Their .656 winning percentage is the highest in major-league history.
