Sports

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Julio Melendez of Arlington, Va., holds up two of his company's season tickets on opening day, Thursday, March 31, 2011 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Rear Admiral Paul Zukunft of the U.S. Coast Guard, left, Lieutenant General Richard Y. Newton III of the U.S. Air Force, Vice Admiral Michael Vitale of the U.S. Navy, Lieutenant General Terry G. Robling of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Major General Karl Horst of the U.S. Army throw out the first pitches before the Washington Nationals Atlanta Braves opening day baseball game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 31, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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Nationals starting pitcher Livan Hernandez was solid from the third inning on in Thursday's home season opener, but was pulled after just 77 pitches. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Nationals starting pitcher Livan Hernandez delivers a pitch during the first inning of the opening day game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 31, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Chipper Jones doubled and scored in the first inning to give the Braves a lead they would never relinquish Thursday. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Tim Walker of Alexandria, Va., has season tickets to the Nationals and came out for opening day Thursday, March 31, 2011 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Jayon Werth connects for a base hit in his first at bat with the Nationals during the first inning of the opening day game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 31, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Jayson Werth rounds second and heads for third on a Ryan Zimmerman single during the first inning of the opening day game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 31, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Ryan Zimmerman tosses his bat after striking out looking at a Derek Lowe pitch during the third inning of the opening day game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 31, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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** FILE ** Once again, Teddy the presidential mascot failed to win the mascot race during the opening day game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 31, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Braves starting pitcher Derek Lowe delivers a pitch during the third inning of the opening day game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 31, 2011. Lowe got the win for the Braves. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Nationals second baseman Danny Espinosa forces out Brian McCann as he tries to turn a double play on a ball hit by Dan Uggla during the 7th inning of the opening day game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 31, 2011. (Drew Angerer/The Washington Times)

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Russell March of Washington, D.C. cheers as the Nationals make a play on opening day, Thursday, March 31, 2011 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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A fan in a Strasburg jersey makes his way to his seat the Washington Nationals host the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 31, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)

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Nationals fans Aubrey Lay, 10, left in orange coat, Ian Rackow, 9, second from left, Jed Alterman, 9, third from left, John Moses, second from right, and Steven Velasquez, right, hold their hand-made sign and cheer on the Nationals as the Washington Nationals host the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., Thursday, March 31, 2011. (Rod Lamkey Jr/The Washington Times)