Were you unable to score tickets to opening day at the new Nationals stadium? Us too. Lucky for you, the Nationals are now dishing out a small serving of hope for a few hundred lucky fans. Beginning at 9 a.m. this morning and lasting through Friday, March 21 at 5 p.m., you can register for a chance to be picked in a random drawing that allows you to purchase some remaining tickets for the March 30 opener against the Atlanta Braves. Follow this link and fill out the registration form, and hope for the best.

The drawing will be held "on or about Saturday, March 22," and the Nats will notify fans via email by Tuesday March 25, giving those selected only 24 hours to make their purchases. You've got to be 18 to enter, and it's limited to one entry per person.

In other Nats news, right-hander John Patterson -- thought to be near the top of the Nats rotation this year -- continued his somewhat rocky spring training during an 11-3 loss to Orioles. Patterson started off with two perfect innings before giving up six runs in the third and fourth innings. While many are taking the glass half-empty approach, Nats blog Capitol Punishment looks at his strikeouts to walks ratio and wonders if something else might be to blame for the righty's poor showing. They'll face the Orioles again in less than two weeks as the Nationals make their Nationals Park debut March 29 in their final exhibition game. Tickets to that game are limited to season-ticket holders.