Quotable

Nats give out high-fives after their win. "To see such a big crowd, a crowd that was on our side, a crowd that seemed to be into every pitch -- it's something we're not used to," said outfielder Brad Wilkerson. (Jonathan Newton -- The Washington Post)

2

Number of wins for Nationals starters: Tomo Ohka got the first win for the rotation by pitching six innings in Wednesday's 11-4 victory over Atlanta; Livan Hernandez went 8 1/3 innings in last night's 5-3 win over Arizona.

Quotable

"You try to control your adrenaline, and not go with your heat. And wear the right shoes."

-- President Bush, on preparing to throw the first pitch.

Take a Bow

The crowd seemed so desperate to cheer for someone in a baseball hat that it roared at the first public introduction of a National. It was equipment manager Mike Wallace, who doffed his hat at the enormous roar, albeit with a surprised look.

-- Les Carpenter

Get Your Beer?

By the fourth inning, a large pile of people had gathered near the ramps in the third deck. All pedestrian traffic had ceased. Had someone fallen? Was there a fight? No, just the SECOND beer line, a young woman sighed. Wonder what the first looked like.

-- Les Carpenter

Program Here

Sixty-five thousand official game programs were printed; they sold for $10 each. Fans were buying them as possible collectibles -- "maybe in a few years I'll put 'em on eBay," Frank Glascon of Mitchellville said after buying a pair of programs -- and at least some salesmen were encouraging such behavior.

"This is a wise investment," screamed vendor Rick Russell of Capitol Heights, who said by the fourth inning he had sold at least three cases, containing 40 programs each, to individual buyers.

"They've been buying 'em like hot cakes man," he said. "They're saying they hope they'll be worth something down the line."

-- Dan Steinberg