NEW YORK -- A night that began with appreciation for reigning National League Championship Series MVP Daniel Murphy ended with New York Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard providing more evidence that his emergence on the national stage last October was no fluke, either.

Syndergaard struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings as the Mets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 2-0 win over the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.

Syndergaard, who went 2-1 in four games (three starts) while recording 26 strikeouts over 19 innings during the Mets' run to the World Series, allowed just five hits and no walks while recording the seventh 10-strikeout game of his career on Tuesday.

"I think Noah's one of those kind of guys -- you look at what he did last fall, I put him in a position he'd never been in before, wasn't fazed by it, pitched brilliantly," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "I think he rises to the challenge."

The Nationals entered the first game of the season between the National League East's co-favorites with a 1 1/2 game lead and their own dominant right-hander on the mound in Max Scherzer, who struck out a record-tying 20 batters in his previous start last Wednesday and no-hit the Mets in his most recent start at Citi Field last Oct. 3.

The challenge facing the Mets seemed to grow in the hours before the game, when first baseman Lucas Duda and third baseman David Wright were each scratched with back issues. But New York, which took control of the division last year with three-game sweeps of Washington from July 31-Aug. 2 and Sept. 7-9, wasted no time grabbing momentum Tuesday.

Syndergaard threw just 12 pitches in a perfect first inning before Curtis Granderson -- who made the last out in Scherzer's no-hitter -- homered on Scherzer's first pitch in the bottom of the frame.

Granderson finished 2-for-2 with two walks. He and Michael Conforto, who hit a two-out homer in the third, were the only Mets to get beyond first base against Scherzer.

"When you have your lineup short, somebody's got to pick you up," Collins said. "'Grandy' did that tonight, I thought."

The Nationals mustered their lone threat in the second, when, with one out, Ryan Zimmerman doubled and went to third on a single by Anthony Rendon. But Syndergaard ended the inning by inducing Wilson Ramos to hit into a 4-6-3 double play.

"That was a playoff atmosphere all over the place tonight," Mets second baseman Neil Walker said. "And Noah stepped up to the occasion for sure."

Syndergaard recorded nine of his strikeouts between the third and the sixth. He was lifted after a 1-2-3 seventh in which Zimmerman and Rendon each recorded hard-hit lineouts.

The 23-year-old improved to 4-2 and lowered his ERA to 2.19. He has struck out 65 and walked just nine in 53 1/3 innings.

"Every time you're facing a division rival, especially a tough team like the Nationals, it's always nice to come up and take the first one and get that motivation to go into the next two games," Syndergaard said.

Right-handers Addison Reed and Jeurys Familia (13th save) each threw a perfect inning to preserve the win. Familia retired Bryce Harper on a grounder to third to end the game and leave the ex-Met Murphy standing in the on-deck circle.

Murphy, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Mets and blasted seven postseason homers last fall before signing a three-year deal with the Nationals in December, went 1-for-3 in his return to New York as his average "slipped" from .400 to .399. Murphy and Ramos were the only Nationals who didn't strike out against Syndergaard.

"It took a little getting used to, coming out of the third base dugout," Murphy said,

Murphy doffed his cap to the crowd after a brief montage of his Mets highlights were played just before first pitch. He also received a warm standing ovation prior to his first at-bat in the second inning.

"It's warm for the organization to play that video before the game," Murphy said "The ovation from the crowd left me humbled, to say the least."

Scherzer (4-3) allowed the two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out 10 over 6 1/3 innings. It was the 38th double-digit strikeout game for Scherzer.

It was the first time this season two starters whiffed at least 10 batters in the same game.

NOTES: Mets 3B Matt Reynolds, who was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas earlier Tuesday, made his major league debut in place of David Wright, batted ninth and went 0-for-3. To make room for Reynolds, LHP Sean Gilmartin was optioned to Las Vegas. ... Mets GM Sandy Alderson, who was diagnosed with cancer last fall, said he underwent a pre-planned surgery last week. Alderson said the surgery was "fantastically successful" and that he remains on a pace for full recovery. ... Nationals LF Jayson Werth batted second for the first time this season. 3B Anthony Rendon, the usual no. 2 hitter, made his second start in the sixth spot. ... Nationals RHP Max Scherzer has 30 strikeouts over his last two starts. The last pitcher to whiff 30 batters in two starts was Cleveland Indians RHP Corey Kluber who achieved the feat from May 13-18, 2015.