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Nationals excited to open new park vs. Braves

Mar 30, 2008 - 1:19 PM Atlanta (0-0) at Washington (0-0) 8:05 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) - The Washington Nationals will officially christen Nationals Park on Sunday night as they host the Atlanta Braves in the first regular-season game in the $600 million venue.

After spending the last three seasons in decrepit RFK Stadium, everyone is excited about the new digs.

"It's the nicest stadium I've ever been to, and we're lucky to have it," third base man Ryan Zimmerman said after Saturday's 3-0 exhibition win over Baltimore. "But now we just want to win."

The 41,888-seat stadium is state-of-the-art, with an oval-shaped clubhouse that includes a special room where the day's starting pitcher can nap.

"This is awesome," closer Chad Cordero said. "(We waited a long time) to get a stadium. To finally be here, it's pretty amazing. Hopefully, I could be here for a long time. I want to enjoy this."

President George W. Bush will throw out the first pitch. The man that will throw the next pitch is 30-year-old lefthander Odalis Perez, who wasn't even on the 40-man roster when the Nationals opened camp.

Perez, who was signed to a minor-league contract on February 19, went 8-11 with a 5.57 ERA with Kansas City last season.

The addition of outfielders Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge should be a boost for Washington, which scored the fewest runs in baseball last season (673). The return of first baseman Nick Johnson, who missed the entire 2007 season while recovering from a broken leg, will also help.

Johnson will start over reigning National League Comeback Player of the Year Dmitri Young, who has had issues with his weight this spring due to his diabetes.

Meanwhile, the Braves will be missing their Opening Day starter in each of the last three seasons.

Atlanta, which finished third in the NL East last season, will start this season without John Smoltz. Tim Hudson will get the start with Smoltz on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.

Hudson rebounded from a terrible 2006 season in which he posted a career-worst 4.86 ERA by going 16-10 with a 3.33 ERA in 2007.