What’s more American than Opening Night baseball in the nation’s capitol?  The president throwing the first pitch?  A beautiful new stadium that overlooks both the Capitol dome and the Washington monument? A win for the home-town team?

What about Charles M. Schulz’ classic cartoon, the Peanuts.

Well, you might never believe this — but, EXACTLY 15 years ago last night (March 30, 1993), Charlie Brown hit his first home run.  It was a walk off home run in the bottom of the 9th inning to win the game. 

We had a blast during our first two baseball games at Nationals Park. Through out the weekend we participated in a roundtable with Harper from Oleanders and Morning Glories. It was fun, we chatted about the line up, the new stadium, and our predictions for this season. Check out the full discussion here. Hope you all are still smiling after last night’s game, we are!  

We spent 10 hours at Nationals Park today, and time seemed to fly by. Just like the day before, a large part of today was spent catching up with friends and learning our way around the new park. Right from the beginning the place was electric with excitement. Watching the Nats batting practice before home games is something that I am going to look forward to all season, today’s was great with a bunch of guys hitting would be home runs.

As the sun set, the opening day festivities began. Don Sutton was the MC for the night. He introduced the Braves line up first, they had a red carpet and everything. The Nats line up was introduced next, with the starters running in from center field between two huge American flags. It was really a classic display. Ryan Zimmerman and President Bush walked to the mound amidst thousands of camera flashes. Mr. Bush’s pitch was dead on. Regardless of your politics, you have to appreciate the symbolism of the moment. Watching the President throw out the first pitch in Nationals Park is a moment I won’t forget.

The game got off to a favorable start, with Odalis Perez’s first pitch strike. He recorded the first out in Nationals Park by striking out Kelly Johnson. Cristian Guzman recorded the first hit for the stadium with his single in the first. What a way to start the game! Nick Johnson came out strong by nailing a double to right field. Guzman scored and Johnson recorded his first RBI since 2006. The Nats scored another run in the first when Austin Kearns’ single scored Johnson. Perez continued to pitch well for the Nats, for five innings. He gave up only one run in the fourth - the first home run in Nats Park - hit by Chipper Jones. Kearns saw a lot of action tonight in right field, making a lot of great catches. Zimmerman was on defensively also.

The score stayed 2-1 Nats until the 9th inning. We saw relief appearances from Rivera, King (who seemed to struggle a bit) and Ayala. Fans and announcers alike we were all set for the Chief to pitch the 9th and close the game. The signature horn blew for Chief, the ESPN announcers claimed Chad was pitching, the fans were ready for him, but Jon Rauch took the mound instead. We weren’t sure what had happened. Something had to be wrong, no way Cordero wouldn’t pitch in save situation for the first time in the park. We thought maybe Manny was trying to play it safe, because Chief is occasionally roughed up by the Braves line up. Turns out we were wrong, and Cordero is suffering from right shoulder tendinitis, he is listed as day to day. Not good news, and we hope he feels better soon.

When Rauch took the mound in the 9th we were hoping for three quick outs. Jon got lucky for the first out and caught Jones’ ball himself. He followed up by allowing a double to Teixeira. Rauch got Francoeur to ground out, leaving only one more out for the Nats win. With McCann at bat, Lo Duca had a horrible passed ball, that allowed Prado to score and tie the game. It seemed like a silly mistake the ball just bobbling off his mitt. Rauch hustled well and tried to cover the plate, but in the 9th inning the score was tied 2-2. It seemed like extra innings for sure, the Nats had to make it dramatic.

The bottom of the 9th could have been out of a movie script. Guzman led off with a strike out. Milledge followed up with a ground out. Ryan Zimmerman, the face and future of the team walked confidently to the plate. Everyone was on their feet. Nats fans knew that Ryan has a bit of the flair for the dramatic, he thrives on these clutch situations. I don’t think anyone doubted that he could win the game with one shot. On the second pitch Zim sent a shot to center field, hitting the first Nationals home run, and a walk off nonetheless!! The atmosphere was unbelievable, all the fans on their feet watching their young star take his well deserved curtain call. It was an amazing way to start the season, winning the first game at Nationals Park in such a fashion. I almost want to thank Lo Duca for passing that ball…almost.

Check out our photos from today!

There’s a scene in the classic baseball movie, Fever Pitch, that I’ve never fully experienced until last night.  Sure, others have as they’ve accompanied us to games but never until tonight did I really feel like I was coming back home for the next six months.  In the movie, Ben brings Lindsey to Opening Day and they meet all his friends in the section.  He introduces them as his summer family.  

I truly hope for every baseball fan that you get to experience this at new Nationals Park.   As I looked around yesterday, I saw summer families everywhere.  Season ticket holders are dispersed this year all over a new park and not in their familiar nooks at RFK.  Combine that with 5 long months of an off-season and you can bet most fans yesterday were thrilled to get back to life as it should be and summer nights at the ballpark, catching up with ushers, security guards, friends and colleagues.

I could say so much about my first impression of the park and the magic of it all, but I have to first tell you that the best part of my experience was seeing familiar faces everywhere I walked.  You are what it makes it so special.  The players will come and go.  Thank you for being part of my summer family.

As far as the game goes, you already know — the Nats won 3-0! A series of consecutive walks by Loewen solidified the win.  The Nats played well.  There’s still so much to learn to see how the park will play.  We watched Kearns and Langerhans practice fielding bounces off the walls near right field and 1st base yesterday. 

We took the Nats Express shuttle from are RFK and we’re pleased to report no problems.  We were on the first fan bus out and I’m embarrased to admit some news channel made us sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” before we boarded.  The ride was short, but the walk to the new park from the drop-off spot was longer than expected.  Upon entering the park, the employee taking tickets said, “Welcome Home.”

For the next few hours, we roamed the park and visited with old friends and other bloggers.  We checked out our seats and found the most spectacular view in the park.  It’s right above 1st base, between the 2 upper decks when you first get to the top of the steps.  Look out there and see the whole park, the Capitol dome and the Washington monument. 

The food options, as you already know, are limitless but the lines were long and the system seems to still be in the works.  Though I’d been warned, the prices still seemed to jump a lot.  The cupholders, by the way, are wonderful.  The park reminded me a lot of Citizen’s Bank Park and PNC Park.  I so desperately wish we had a city scape over left field and not a (albeit necessary) parking garage, but aside from that blemish, the park is really magnificent.

With a new stadium - and especially after the voting system for the new songs, I wondered how abrupt the break would be from RFK and previous seasons.  I was pleased to see that the team kept a lot of the in-game music the same.   That may not seem that important, but when you hear the Nats lineup to Magnificent 7, you’re going to remember a game, any game at RFK.  It gives me chills.  

We’ll know more about the batting songs tonight (most were the same as last season) but it appears Zimmerman has opted for Superstar and Rock Star.

At the end of the game, we straggled out late and witnessed the phenomenal display of fireworks over the stadium.  They were testing for tomorrow so look out.  The display lasted at least 5-10 minutes and it was spectacular.  Tonight is going to be amazing.

If you don’t have tickets, remember to watch on ESPN in HD at 8pm.  MASN has a pre-game and post game show.  Charlie and Dave have the radio broadcast.  XM radio has special coverage all day (and for those real baseball nerds like me, they have a full-time Play Ball channel right now that just plays baseball songs! Enjoy!)

It’s three days of specialty baseball programming dedicated to the timeless magic of Opening Day. A potpourri of sound so Baseball-centric that you will smell the fresh cut grass and beer through the XM speakers. Listen for over 300 baseball songs, re-plays of “Baseball Confidential”, comedy routines like “Who’s on First,” re-play of Bob Dylan’s Baseball episode, ear candy like newsreel audio of Joe DiMaggio’s marriage to Marilyn Monroe plus clips of classic calls like Bobby Thompson’s ‘Shot Heard Round the World’ and Bill Buckner’s flub of Mookie Wilson’s grounder in the ‘86 World Series.

Schedule:
Friday, March 28 at 12 Midnight ET - Sunday, March 30 at Midnight ET

So, enjoy tonight - however you are going to enjoy it!  Happy Opening Night!

Here’s the photo gallery for last night’s exhibition game.

Who’s excited?!

Nats
Guzman SS
Milledge CF
Zimmerman 3B
Johnson 1B
Young DH
Kearns RF
Lo Duca C
Dukes LF
Belliard 2B
Bergmann P

O’s
Roberts 2B
Mora 3B
Markakis RF
Millar 1B
Scott DH
Payton LF
R. Hernandez C
Jones CF
L. Hernandez SS
Loewen P

One of our favorite artists, John Mayer, doesn’t know much about baseball apparantly, but we give him points for trying. John recently called part of a game in the Red Sox vs. Angels opener in Japan. Maybe he should have tried it in Japanse, a language he actually speaks. The pitch……And THAT happens! Enjoy!

Finally after five long months, it’s baseball time! The Nationals returned to the district last night, and headed right to the new ballpark.  After playing in RFK for three seasons, Nationals Park must be like a dream for these guys.  They play every game with heart and deserve a bright shiny new place to call their own. SBF was there last night when the players arrived and has some great pictures of them seeing their new home for the first time. 

We haven’t been inside the new park yet, mostly due to work schedules, but also because we didn’t want to spoil the magic of seeing the place for the first time.  We are so excited to see everything tomorrow, and are looking forward to spending many summers as Nats fans in Nationals Park. The Post has a great interactive guide to the new park today, check it out!

Last week, the Nationals asked fans to pick the music for the new park.  We lobbied hard for Heart during the 7th inning stretch, but sadly it didn’t win.

Here’s a list of what you’ll be hearing this season -

After a home run - Chuck Brown Bustin Loose

During the 7th inning stretch - Otis Day and the Knights Shout

After a Nats win - U2 Beautiful Day

Lastly, it sounds like Lo Duca won’t be catching President Bush’s first pitch on Sunday.  Manny Acta will be given that honor. The White House says its not because of the steroid issues, and that the Nationals made the decision. Either way, we think it’s a wise move to let Manny be the one to play catch with President.

We’ll have more later as we kick off the first weekend of baseball in Nationals Park!

JDLand has great photos from tonight when the players arrived at the stadium for the very first time to take a look at their new park.  Definately check it out!

Thanks to Federal Baseball for the find and Miss Chatter for the heads up and photo shoot outtakes.

Zimmerman’s cover of Sports Illustrated has arrived at your nearest convenient store.   The cover features Ryan Braun, Justin Upton, Troy Tulowitzki, Jacoby Ellsbury, Clay Buchholz and Ryan Zimmerman.  Tom Verducci writes the piece on the 2005 draftee-turned-stars.

It has SI’s 2008 baseball preview too, so make sure you pick it up!

Last night, the three of us had the wonderful opportunity to tour XM Radio’s headquarters in Washington DC and sit in on MLB Live with Ronnie Lane.  We were certainly surprised when they put us on air to preview the Washington Nationals as part of their evening-long NL East breakdown.  We’re working on summing it all up for you, but wanted to share the pictures now.  Even before this experience, I would have been the first person to tell you — XM Radio is a baseball fan’s best friend.  So, check out their packages and services — every regular and post-season game, many spring training games and a 24/7 baseball news and talk radio channel.  What more could you ever ask for?