Fans make Nationals feel right at home
WASHINGTON — Welcome home.That is the message, punctuated with a curly ‘W’, that greeted every fan that arrives at 1500 South Capitol Street from the Navy Yard Metro station Sunday, a sentiment proclaimed on a giant red carpet leading to the center field gate.
There’s a strange, surreal feeling about the park with almost a belief that it’s a temporary visit for the Na-tionals with a return to the cavernous, dreary confines of RFK Stadium just down the street only a matter of time.
But this is for real. There is no change imminent — the Nats aren’t going anywhere.
“It felt like there were more fans here than [the announced attendance],” manager Manny Acta said after Saturday’s 3-0 exhibition win over Baltimore. The second-year skipper added that he and the players noticed an improvement in fan involvement during the game.”
“They feel closer, more into the game,” Acta said. “It makes it more fun for the players.”
The fans greeted the players with similar warm salutations during introductions with Acta, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, first baseman Nick Johnson and reserve Dmitri Young receiving the loudest ovations at the sound of those names.
Hosting Atlanta on ESPN for the sports network’s game of the week, officially opening the 2008 campaign, the Nationals made themselves at home in their new ballpark. Starting pitcher Odalis Perez made quick work of the Braves in the first regular season inning in the stadium’s history, including a strike out of Kelly John-son to begin the game and Chipper Jones to close the frame.
Christian Guzman then opened the Nats’ half of the first with a first-pitch base hit, another first at the park.
Commissioner Bud Selig, fresh off treks Beijing and Tokyo (for the Boston-Oakland two-game series last week), said coming to Washington’s park was the perfect end to a long road trip.
“Walking around a ballpark like this, seeing the excitement,” Selig said, “you realize that everything that went into this, it’s a great story.
“We’re back where we belong. For lack of a better term, we’re back in a baseball cathedral.”
The Nationals are finally home.
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