Photo by John W. Iwanski

Cubs 4, Nationals 3: Actually, I’m glad Chad Tracy struck out in his pinch-hitting appearance yesterday. Had he sparked another game-winning rally, it would have forced us to come up with a “Linsanity”-like pun to describe his heroic exploits. And Chad Tracy’s name is a lot less malleable than Jeremy Lin’s.

Jordan Zimmerman was good in his first start of the season, giving up just two runs (one unearned), in seven innings. But the Cubs’ Jeff Samardzija was better, retiring 15 consecutive batters after a game-opening double by Ian Desmond. The Nats lingered with one run until the top of the ninth, when Adam LaRoche belted a two-run home run that hinted at another come-from-behind win. But no such luck this time.

Still, LaRoche’s shot continued something of a pattern the Nats have shown in the season’s first few games: While the starting rotation has been impressive through three games, the Nationals’ offense can’t score early. The Post notes:

With the Cubs’ three starting pitchers on the mound in the season-opening series, the Nationals scored five runs in 22-and-one-third innings. During the first seven innings in their opening series, the Nationals went 9 for 72 (.125) with four walks.

Next up for the Nationals on their season-opening road trip is a visit to Flushing, Queens for three games against the New York Mets, who despite their Madoff-fueled off-field nightmares, managed to open the season 3-0. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Orioles, another perennial disappointment with a perfect record over the opening weekend, play host to the winless New York Yankees. The Orioles and Mets are 3-0; the Nats are 2-1; the Yankees are 0-3. What’s the world come to?