Last night, the Nationals opened their season, and christened their new park. While the event was certainly historic, the fans can thank Ryan Zimmerman for making it memorable.
After a pregame that featured: TWO large American flags, a flyover by the Air Force Reserve, the National Anthem, our President receiving some friendly criticism from the fans, and the introduction of about everyone who has anything to do with the Nationals, an actual baseball game started. The Nationals started strong, taking a 2-0 lead after the first inning after an 2 out RBI double by Nick Johnson, and RBI single by Austin Kearns. After Kearns’s single, the Braves retired the next 24 batters in a row. Some may think that this is a sign of an anemic offense. Personally, I like to think that the Nats were cold and trying to speed the game along, and I thank them for that.
Chipper Jones hit the first home run in Nationals Park in the 4th inning, bring the Braves within one run of the Nats. The Nationals held onto their 1 run lead until the 9th inning when Martin Prado scored on passed ball from Jon Rauch, tying the game at 2-2. Like any good fan, I immediately cursed Jim Bowden for trading Brian Schneider for Lastings (0-4) Milledge. That might strike some a short-sighted, but I was cold and not looking forward to extra innings. Rauch then retired Brian McCann, and the game went into the bottom of the 9th tied at 2-2.
The bottom of the ninth started with a Guzman strike out, and then a Milledge ground out (Brian Schneider could ground out with the best of them). Ryan Zimmerman then walked to the plate, and everyone in the stands got excited. As the face of the franchise, and a player who already has 3 walk-off homers, the fans could help but feel like something special was going to happen. At the start of the inning, my sister saw that Zimmerman was up 3rd and predicted a walk-off home run, although she had predicted a home run for each of his previous at bats. Zimmerman then promptly drove a 1-0 pitch into the Red Porch (centerfield), winning the game, and rewarding the fans that decided to stay through the cold. As he rounded third, he threw off his helmet and jumped into his teammates surrounding home, in what is now becoming a familiar routine.
In other Nationals news, new left fielder Elijah Dukes left the game after the fifth inning due to a strained right hamstring, and is now on the 15-day DL. Closer Chad Cordero did not play due to tendinitis in his right shoulder, but has not been placed on the DL. Also, George Washington won the inaugural President’s Race, after Jefferson tripped, taking Lincoln with him. Teddy’s losing streak continued, due mainly to confusion about what the race course was in the new stadium.
Photo by afagen
