The Washington Nationals are returning to where it all began. The Nationalss will be playing their 1,000th game since baseball returned to D.C. Tuesday night in the same place and against the same team they first faced long ago on April 4, 2005. In that game, the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Nats 8-4 at Citizens Bank Park to start a new era of D.C. baseball.
One weapon the Nationals did not have in 2005, but have now is right fielder Jayson Werth, who makes his return to Philadelphia for the first time since signing with the Nationals. Werth spent four seasons with the Phillies and collected a World Series ring with the team before signing with Washington this past offseason.
The Nationals are hoping for a different result Tuesday night against their NL East rival, and they will be using the same arm they used in that first game. The Nationals have called on Livan Hernandez (3-2, 3.23 ERA) to take the mound to oppose Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels (3-1, 3.13 ERA). Hernandez last pitched April 28th against the New York Mets and came away with his third win of the season, while Hamels is coming off an April 27th victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Nationals Lineup
Danny Espinosa - 2B
Ian Desmond - SS
Jayson Werth - RF
Adam LaRoche - 1B
Michael Morse - LF
Jerry Hairston Jr. - CF
Ivan Rodriguez - C
Brian Bixler - 3B
Livan Hernandez - SP