With ``Washington'' written in blue block letters across their chests, the Nationals played their first official post-Montreal game Monday, opening the season and their new era with an 8-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
``We're making history here. As an Expo, at Shea Stadium at the end of the year, we were the last players to wear that uniform. And now we're the first to wear this uniform,'' left fielder Termel Sledge said. ``They haven't had baseball in D.C. in 35 years, so it's a whole new atmosphere.'' Sledge hit the first home run in Nationals history, a two-run shot off starter Jon Lieber in the sixth inning.
Other Nationals' firsts included Brad Wilkerson's single leading off the game -- his uniform is headed to the Hall of Fame -- and Sledge's RBI groundout that drove in Nick Johnson with their first run with one out in the second. All those team firsts go into the books, and memorabilia will head to Cooperstown, but Robinson has other concerns - "We need to get our first win". Maybe tonight.
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