How Did Fans Fare Getting To the Game?

"It was a snap," said Lisa Gibney, who took Metro from Rockville. "I can't imagine coming any other way. You're steps from where you want to be," she said as she stood at the Navy Yard stop three hours before game time. But as trains grew crowded, waits grew longer.

Two hours before the game, Green Line trains at L'Enfant Plaza were so jammed that some fans initially couldn't get on.

"The biggest complaint is: 'There are not enough trains, and they are not long enough,' " said Ed Gray, 36, a systems engineer traveling to the game with his wife and parents.

When he and his family arrived at the East Falls Church Metro station at 2:30 p.m., the parking lot was full. They waited more than 20 minutes for a train and waited again at L'Enfant Plaza, only to watch where one train leave without them because it was full.

Another couple, Tom and Tiffany Bridge, who were both wearing Nationals caps, said they left their home in South Arlington at 2:30 p.m. but spent 25 minutes at the Court House Metro stop waiting for a Washington-bound train that was not completely full. When they managed to get one, it broke down at Foggy Bottom. They transferred to a second train and waited in a large crowd at L'Enfant Plaza for a third train.

"Great that everyone is taking public transit," said Tom Bridge, 29, a network administrator.

"But there should be some public transit," said his wife, Tiffany Bridge, a 29-year-old Web master.

Metro spokeswoman Cathy Asato said that the Navy Yard Station was very busy but that trains moved smoothly. "They weren't getting backed up, but they were full," she said. Asato said at least 9,900 people used the Navy Yard Station between 3 and 6 p.m.

Fans were urged to take Metro because parking near the ballpark is limited and nearby streets are narrow.

Yesterday, the roads seemed clear. In the hours before the game, traffic on M and South Capitol streets flowed with no sign of congestion. As the game began, District transportation spokeswoman Karyn LeBlanc said, "Traffic seems to be moving very nicely."

Fans agreed.

"It was good. You know, there was a little backup at the 14th Street bridge," said Fred Priester of Chantilly. "We left Oakton at 5 o'clock." And he was walking down M Street to the ballpark 15 minutes later. He said there was no problem or backup at his parking lot.