In last year’s opener at Cincinnati, the Mets failed to hold a ninth-inning lead when Braden Looper allowed home runs to Adam Dunn and Joe Randa in a 7-6 loss.

Playing very deep in left, especially against left-handed sluggers, Soriano caught four fly balls without a problem. He did mistakenly break back and circle Nady’s sixth-inning blooper, letting it drop in front of him for a single.

“Left field was great today,” Soriano said. “No troubles.”

The Nationals, beginning their second season in the nation’s capital, got three hits and an RBI from Vidro. An All-Star second baseman, he’s the reason Washington moved Soriano to left.

Making his seventh opening-day start, Glavine allowed one run and six hits in six innings to earn his 276th career win. The two-time Cy Young Award winner also went 2-for-2, including a single that helped his team score in the third on Lo Duca’s bloop single.

Coming off right knee surgery last October, Hernandez gave up three runs and eight hits in six innings to take the loss on a gray, 55-degree afternoon.

Soriano, an AL All-Star at second base the past four seasons, was acquired from Texas in a December trade and initially refused to switch positions. He finally agreed, but played only 10 exhibition games in left after returning from the World Baseball Classic.

He handled his first chance in left without a problem, catching Reyes’ third-inning line drive and holding a runner at third base with an accurate throw to the infield.

He looked pretty relaxed out there, even turning around to gesture to fans in the bleachers.

Mike Hewitt / Getty Images The Week in Sports Pictures

Soriano also went 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base — on a 3-0 count to Zimmerman. Their singles helped load the bases with none out in the fourth, and Royce Clayton’s sacrifice fly tied it at 1.

Nady’s two-out RBI double in the bottom half put the Mets ahead again. Wright connected on an 0-2 pitch from Hernandez leading off the sixth and was serenaded with expectant chants of “MVP! MVP!”

Vidro cut it to 3-2 with an RBI single off Heilman in the seventh, but the right-hander then got Jose Guillen to ground into a double play.

Notes: Glavine (1995 World Series MVP) and Hernandez (1997) have now combined for 386 career wins, the most of any opposing opening-day starters this year.

BASEBALL'S OPENING DAY Quick look at the day's action   Slideshow: Top images from Opening Day Braves 16, Cubs 5: Phenom Jason Heyward homers in first at-bat Phillies 11, Nationals 1: Halladay allows 1 run in Phillies debut Cardinals 11, Reds 6: Pujols starts season with 2-homer game Mets 7, Marlins 1: Wright, Santana lead New York in opener Tigers 8, Royals 4: Kansas City bullpen blows it for Greinke Pirates 11, Dodgers 5: Garrett Jones goes deep twice off Padilla White Sox 6, Indians 0: Buehrle tosses 7 innings of 3-hit ball Rangers 5, Blue Jays 4: Shaun Marcum loses no-hitter, then game Diamondbacks 6, Padres 3: Drew leads way with inside-the-park HR Rockies 5, Brewers 3: Jimenez hits 99 to lead Colorado to win Red Sox 9, Yankees 7: Pedroia, Youkilis spark big comeback Celizic on Yankees-Red Sox: Setting stage for amazing race Hardball Talk: News and analysis from Opening Day