Hits to homers: Firsts in Nats' history

There are memorable firsts in team histories. Those big home runs and no-hitters are standout moments. How about the intricacies of the game -- the RBIs and strikeouts, for example. Take a look back at a range of firsts in Nationals franchise history.

Brad Wilkerson: First hit, triple, home run and cycle
When it comes to Nationals’ firsts, Wilkerson came up big in 2005. In the first inning of the season opener at Citizens Bank Park on April 4, the leadoff batter dropped a bloop single into right field against Jon Lieber for Washington’s first hit. Just two days later, he became the first Nats player to hit for the cycle, which included the team’s first triple. He wasn’t done. On Aug. 4, Wilkerson rocketed the Nationals’ inaugural grand slam, against Dodgers pitcher Duaner Sanchez in front of the home crowd.

Terrmel Sledge: First RBI
With the Nationals and Phillies scoreless after the first inning on Opening Day 2005, Sledge grounded out to second base and drove in Nick Johnson for the club’s first run. In a role reversal three years later, it was Johnson who recorded the first RBI at Nationals Park.

J.J. Davis: First stolen base
Davis appeared in only 14 games for the Nationals, but he left his mark in team history by stealing its first base on April 7, 2005, against Phillies starter Randy Wolf.

Joey Eischen: First win (regular season)
Zach Day threw 5 2/3 innings and Antonio Osuna pitched one-third of a frame before Joey Eischen came in for the seventh on April 6, 2005. He held the Phillies scoreless on seven pitches, good for the Nats’ first win, 7-3.

Ryan Mattheus: First win (postseason)
Two pitches. That’s all Mattheus needed in Game 1 of the 2014 National League Division Series to get three outs and the ‘W’ against the Cardinals in relief of Gio González and Craig Stammen.

Chad Cordero: First save
It’s fitting Cordero earned the Nationals’ first save when he iced a win over the Braves on April 12, 2005. That year, he set the team’s single-season record with 47 saves and went on to become its all-time saves leader.

Livan Hernandez: First strikeout
Three batters into the first inning, Hernandez got Bobby Abreu swinging for the Nationals’ first strikeout on Opening Day 2005.

John Patterson: First complete-game shutout
On the same day Wilkerson belted Washington’s first grand slam, Patterson recorded its first shutout in a 7-0 win over the Dodgers. Patterson struck out 13, didn’t issue a walk and held Los Angeles to four hits over 116 pitches.

Jordan Zimmermann: First no-hitter
While most of the firsts happened in the inaugural season, the Nationals’ first no-hitter wasn’t thrown until the 2014 regular-season finale. On Sept. 28, Zimmerman accomplished the feat against the Marlins, thanks in part to a memorable game-ending nab by Steven Souza Jr. in the outfield of Nats Park.

Ryan Zimmerman: First World Series home run
It was the Nats’ first Draft pick who, 14 years later, hit their first World Series homer on Oct. 22, 2019. In Game 1, Ryan Zimmerman pummeled a solo home run off Gerrit Cole, a moment he referred to as, “almost floating around the bases.”