They didn’t make their season-opening rotation plans with this in mind, but the fact Michael Soroka’s debut with the Nationals came in his home country was a happy byproduct, something everyone had looked forward to for weeks.

Right-hander’s first start for Washington ends with him clenching his fist and walking off the mound during a 5-2 defeat. The team said he has right biceps cramps and is hopeful it isn’t serious.

Andrés Giménez homered and scored three runs, Bowden Francis pitched six innings to win his first start of the season and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Washington Nationals 5-2 on Monday night. Giménez reached base four times.