flickr set: RFK Finale
WASHINGTON 5 Philadelphia 3 (CBS Sports Boxscore)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three seasons of Nationals baseball at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium came to an end yesterday in an exciting 5-3 victory before a lively season high crowd of over 40,000. The pagentry was high, but so was the excitement on the field. Austin Kearns knocked in the first Nats run in the first inning. Starter Joel Hanrahan made it to the fifth before giving up the tying run. Six more Nationals pitchers appeared in the game with Luis Ayala getting the final win in stadium history.
The Nats lineup took back the lead in the fifth with D’Angelo Jimenez reaching third on a double and an error. Kearns knocked Jimenez in to tie the game. After Antonio Alfonseca, who leads the league in fingers, walked Tony Batista, Geoff Geary came in to face C Jesus Flores, plucking him on the arm to force in a run. Ryan Church killed the rally with a 6-4-3 double play.
In the eighth, the Nats added two runs on RBI by Robert Fick and Brian Schneider who pinch hit. Ryan Zimmerman scored on Fick’s single, having singled himself in his final RFK at bat. The runs provided a cushion for Chad Cordero’s ninth inning. As is tradition, Cordero allowed several baserunners and a run, but closed the deal to save the win, his 36th this season and 61st at RFK, for one last BANG ZOOM and curly w at 2400 East Capital Street.
Nats Provide Fond Farewell, End RFK Era With a Victory – The Post
Nats close RFK era with a win – The Wash. Times
The Nats victory ensured a winning record at RFK over the last three seasons by the slimmest of margins — 122-121.
A look at the festivities of yesterday’s finale:
Tip o’ the Cap to RFK – The Post
Fans bid adieu to RFK – The Wash. Times
DICK HELLER – So long, so what? – The Wash. Times
Loverro: Nationals, fans give park worthy farewell – The Wash. Times
Teddy made an appearance in today’s Reliable Source (The Post). He went to the wrong ballpark for the President’s Race. So much for the “Teddy winning at the last game” theory.
MARC FISHER – A ‘Final’ Farewell After So Many Others – The Post
WILLIAM GILDEA – A Place for Goodbyes – The Post
PHIL WOOD – The new park will be welcomed, but RFK will live on in fan’s hearts – The Wash. Examiner
Baseball says goodbye again to RFK – The Wash. Examiner
Nationals end baseball era at RFK – The Sun
I’ll have more to say about RFK Stadium later today.