Video: Giancarlo Stanton hits the first homer of the 2020 season

Yankees DH Giancarlo Stanton wasted no time staking starter Gerrit Cole to an early lead on Opening Day against the Nationals on Thursday in Washington D.C. Max Scherzer started the top of the first inning by inducing a ground out from Aaron Hicks. Aaron Judge followed up with a ground ball single to left field. Gleyber Torres then grounded out, pushing Judge to second base.

Stanton, batting fourth, took a first-pitch slider for strike one, then a cutter outside to even the count. Scherzer followed up with a cutter that caught too much of the plate. Stanton crushed it out to left-center field at Nationals Park for a two-run homer, the first of the 2020 regular season.

The 1st homer of 2020 belongs to @Giancarlo818. 💪 pic.twitter.com/Q1cZCu7m0E

— MLB (@MLB) July 23, 2020

Statcast measured the blast at 459 feet, which stands as his longest homer as a Yankee.

Adam Eaton clawed back for a run in the bottom half of the first inning, swatting a solo homer off of Cole that went out to right field.

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