What Was Your Favorite Moment?

What was your favorite moment from today's twice delayed by rain and hail--ending in whipping wind and freezing temperatures game at Nationals Park?

Was it Rick Ankiel's two run homer off Tommy Hanson that sailed over the Out Of Town Scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning that found Ankiel jumping up and down as he crossed home plate galloping into the dugout like a 10 year old? From an enjoyment to watch standpoint--that was precious.

Or was it the fact that as Hanson delivered the fateful pitch to Rick--Ryan Zimmerman (leading off 1st base) ran on a 3-1 pitch with two outs? How many times have you seen Our Washington Nationals be so daring early in a tie ball game?

Maybe you enjoyed Danny Espinosa continuing his rather stellar play at 2nd base two games into 2011? In the top of the 2nd he dove to his left to snare a hot grounder off the bat of The Brav-OS Freddie Freeman. As good of a defensive play as you might see in any game. Only to watch "DANO" (as The African Queen now calls Espinosa) one inning later go airborne to his right, backhand grabbing JUST before the baseball hit paydirt--a vicious line drive off the bat of Atlanta's "Pest"--Martin Prado.

The Defensive Play Of This Game that found Espinosa protecting his left wrist (the same one he hurt last year) by rolling over his palm of his glove hand as he snatched the baseball out of the air. That was a Big League Play by a rookie with talent and smarts.  A Veteran Catch!!

Photo Credit--Alex Brandon (AP)

Possibly you also appreciated seeing John Lannan return to the mound for the 5th inning in order to qualify for the win after a one hour rain delay? Did that not give you pause? Atlanta's Tommy Hanson couldn't do so. Washington's Southpaw wearing Number 31 somehow did and looked strong doing so. That shows maturity.

Forgiving Jayson Werth for his twice turning around, lost in the sun (yes, amazingly the sun did come out today after the second rain delay) misplay of a Freddie Freeman fly ball that landed five feet away on the warming track just in front of Washington Bullpen in the top of the 6th--hasn't New Number 28 wearing D.C. White & Red been impressive in showing ALL of his tools in just two games wearing a Nationals Uniform?

Opening Day--Werth made two fine defensive plays. Today, three hits including a scorching liner to right center in the bottom of the third that looked to be out of the park, but landed three to five feet below the railing.  He even added some fabulous base running when he laced a sure single to left center in the bottom of the second and didn't let up rounding first--hustling to second for a double when The Braves' Nate McLouth wasn't quick enough picking up the baseball rolling toward the outfield wall.

Jayson Werth has been impressive by bringing it strong out of the box.

Photo Credit--Alex Brandon (AP)

Photo Credit--Alex Brandon (AP)

Much like what Rick Ankiel again showed in the bottom of the 8th when he suicide squeezed home Zimmerman with a perfectly placed bunt into the grass in front of home plate and the pitching mound. A run scoring sacrifice not seen many times at Nationals Park that brought a huge roar from the announced crowd of 21,941. Neither Brian McCann nor George Sherill had any chance for Atlanta to tag Zimmy at the plate.  An important insurance run that would NEVER had scored if not for Laynce Nix taking out The Braves' Dan Uggla at second base moments earlier to break up what would have been the inning ending double play.

Moment after satisfying moment occurred on South Capitol Street this afternoon. Quality play that did not end until the final out was recorded--thanks to Sean Burnett.  Hockey is not a sport Washington's lefty has regularly played, but around 5:20PM this Saturday, Burnett played like a hockey goalie. First swooping down his glove hand to pocket a sharply hit ball right back to the mound by Martin Prado in the top of the 9th. Then ended off this truly well played game by D.C.'s Team by gloving Chipper Jones' hot liner right back to the box. A baseball that was hit top shelf all the way. Caught so convincingly by Sean Burnett that he laughed as he high fived his catcher Wilson Ramos in celebration.

Those were all the great moments from today's game. Well that and the sight of watching fans near the left field foul pole and center field plaza run for cover from the fast moving rain and hail approaching the ballpark in the bottom of the 4th. All the while, the game continued briefly as the sky darkened considerably and those sitting near home plate and the first base line--just sat in the their seats watching the game. Very odd.

That was terrific too. And fitting for one of the better played games by Washington over the past few seasons.

Final score from Nationals Park where incredibly "The Bang!! Zoom!! Of The Fireworks!! is heard no longer after a Curly "W"--instead a horn? Really, a horn?  Our Washington Nationals 6 and The Atlanta Braves 3. Inning after inning the 2011 Version of D.C.'s team showed a different style of play than seen on South Capitol Street in three previous seasons. This win was an errorless, complete effort from the mound, in the field and at the plate--proving decisive over one of the National League East's best team.

Curly "W" Number One was filled with favorite moments to choose from--timely hitting, solid defense, deft base running, and the joy of executing so perfectly--as was Ankiel's suicide squeeze RBI bunt. But our most cherished effort we took home this afternoon was Laynce Nix giving up his own body to keep an inning alive so his team MIGHT score something later. That's the hard nose type of play that wins the close games--like the one played today--and many, many more in the future. Nix had saved a run and in doing so may have set the tone for the months to come.

Our Washington Nationals showed some growth this afternoon at Nationals Park. The entire 25-man roster went after The Atlanta Braves. That's a favorite moment we'd love to see throughout the remainder of this fresh and new 2011 baseball season.

Game Notes & Highlights

Absolutely stunned to see John Lannan return to the mound after the first rain delay. Early in the season, that was unexpected. But it turned out well for Washington as Lannan held his own and finished five complete allowing just one run on five hits while striking out three. Gaining his first personal win of 2011, John hung in there when most other pitchers would not for a cold, wet, early April game.

Chad Gaudin had quite the experience in his first appearance in a Washington uniform. Former Marlin and always Nats Nemesis, Dan Uggla, swatted Gaudin's initial offering directly over the left field wall and into the visiting bullpen for a home run. We could see the look of discomfort on Chad's face the second the baseball was hit from Section 218. Not a good start for Gaudin, especially when Our Manager Jim Riggleman relieved him for Doug Slaten just two batters later.

Interestingly, Slaten lasted just one batter as Manager Jim then doubled switched when he sent Tyler Clippard to the mound and Nix to leftfield, replacing Michael Morse. Clippard settled the game back down for Washington by pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless relief before Drew Storen entered in the 8th and was taken deep by Atlanta's Alex Gonzalez. A slider over the outside corner of the plate that The Braves' Shortstop (3 for 3 today at the plate) somehow got his bat on and launched out of the park. That was an impressive home run.

Sean Burnett, the presumptive closer for Washington gathered his first save in as many opportunities to close this one out.

Atlanta's Tommy Hanson was anything but sharp. The Braves top young starter didn't last four innings. He threw away a pickoff toss to first base that eventually allowed Mikey Mo to score Washington's first run of 2011 on a sacrifice fly by Espinosa in the bottom of the 2nd.  He faced 19 batters, seven of them reached, four of them scored. And Hanson didn't return when the rains began with Jayson Werth at the plate in the bottom of the 4th.

Werth had three hits (two doubles) and scored one run. Zimmerman had two hits, walked, scored two runs and knocked in his first run of 2011. In his first start of the season, Wilson Ramos slapped out three hits and showed behind the plate his capabilities. Three times we counted Ramos quickly getting to his knees to block a Lannan pitch in the dirt. His throwing arm displayed on a sacrifice bunt by Hanson in the top of the 4th wasn't bad also.

Picked by Jim Riggleman as his centerfielder, Rick Ankiel knocked in two runs with his home run scoring Zimmy before him in the 3rd and The Z-Man again in the bottom of the 8th on that terrific suicide bunt. Ankiel producing some good baseball you had to appreciate.

Three times this afternoon, Manager Jim came out of the home dugout to argue umpiring calls. Three times he didn't win any of the arguments, but Riggleman made a point of protecting his players--publicly.

In another tandem race, this time on bicycles, George and Tom defeated Abe & Teddy pretty handily.

As is the case for every Saturday home game, The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation held their first silent auction of 2011. Up for grabs today were signed baseballs from Jayson Werth and Ian Desmond, as well as, a Bryce Harper autographed bat and Jason Marquis Jersey. Today's bids garnered $1170 for Our Washington Nationals charitable arm. Before the game, Sohna and I purchased game worn Josh Willingham (Home) and Luis Atilano (Away) jerseys from a selection available off the rack at the Dream Foundation Kiosk in Center Field Plaza. Both jerseys were authentic cool base jerseys. Additionally, we picked up a Jesus Flores signed baseball.

New additions to our new changes at Nationals Park 2011 list:

The exterior of the ballpark running from South Capitol Street around Home Plate Gate to Potomac Avenue to 1st Street SW has been completely repainted in two tones of gray.

The Sony Playstation in the Kids Zone in Center Field Plaza is no longer. After their three year commitment came to a close after the end of the 2010 season, Sony decided not to re-up for another year. The lounge furniture that used to be at the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk has been placed inside this area which now includes two large HD TV screens.

Love the banner placed on Garage B that acknowledges all previous professional baseball teams and stadiums that called Washington D.C. their home.

The Washington Senators/Nationals American League & World Series Championship Flags above the HD Scoreboard are bigger, brighter and easier to read in 2011.

New food in the Stars & Stripes Club:

Pork Wingettes,  Fish & Chips, Veggie Burger at the South Capitol Grill

Jerk Chicken Sandwich, Braised Short Rib and Sweet Potato Fries at the Anacostia Station.

Supreme Nachos with BBQ chicken for $12.50 at the Nachos Stand behind Section 218.

The Carving Station behind Section 216 (next to Flippin Pizza) has reduced their prices for Sandwiches $2 for 2011.

We also got a kick out of the questions and sentences printed on the back of service staff employees this year at Nationals Park. Some of the ushers have the phase: "Ask Me!" Food service staff have the phrase: "Hungry?" And roving concession workers have the phrase: "Eating is not a spectator sport."  Sort of funny and pretty noticable.  Usher staff no longer wearing yellow dress shirts but blue polos with white sleeves and Curly "W" on the left breast pocket.

And finally, isn't "Bang!! Zoom!! Go The Fireworks!! after a Washington Nationals home run or win one of the few baseball traditions intrinsic to Our Washington Nationals? Started by Radio Broadcaster Charlie Slowes in 2005 when fireworks were shot off after home runs and wins at RFK Stadium--it became an iconic phrase that baseball fans recognize as D.C. Baseball. Why are we getting rid of a naturally born tradition? Haven't The Washington Capitals embraced a horn from a fan at their games? Why copy that when we have something all our own?

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