D.C.’s new ballpark gets final touchup

WASHINGTON (AP) — It was a day for finishing touches — to the ballpark and the lineup.

Workers mowed the infield and outfield grass at Nationals Park, getting that curly “W” in center field just right, before the Washington Nationals played host to the Baltimore Orioles in an exhibition game that also served as a dress rehearsal Saturday night.

There were wires being tucked away, pillars near an entrance being painted blue and other last-minute fixes. And, in the distance beyond left field, there was the view of the Capitol Building dome, no adjustments necessary.

“It’s a new feel. It makes us a little bit more excited to come here every day, and it gives us a sense of pride,” third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said, none too upset to have left behind creaky, leaky RFK Stadium. “It’s going to be tough to beat us here.”

The day before the Nationals play the first regular season major league game at their $600 million-plus new home, hosting the Atlanta Braves tonight, Washington manager Manny Acta discussed the last two up-for-grabs spots in his starting nine.

Nick Johnson, who missed 2007 with a broken right leg, got the nod over Dmitri Young at first base, while Ronnie Belliard beat out Felipe Lopez at second.

“I’ll be fired up. It’s going to be pretty cool,” Johnson said, thinking about tonight. “I missed a full year. A lot of work to get back. A lot of ups and downs. To be back on the field, it’s a cool thing. Real cool.”

Lopez and Young said all the right things Saturday.

Neither was pleased to hear the news from Acta — delivered in 1-on-1 meetings after a team workout Friday night — but both appeared to have taken the demotions as well as possible.

“Naturally, not happy,” Young said when asked for his reaction. “But at the same time, I’m happy for Nick, being able to come back from his injury. He’s worked his tail off to get back.”

Young hit .320 last season, when he was an All-Star and earned NL comeback player of the year honors. But Johnson did everything he needed to during spring training to prove to the Nationals that he was capable of playing the way he did in 2006, when he produced career bests of a .290 batting average, 46 doubles, 23 homers, 77 RBIs and 110 walks.

Odalis Perez will throw the first official pitch in Nationals Park history, not long after President Bush throws out the first ceremonial pitch, part of plenty of pomp and circumstance planned.