Saturday Night with D.C. United

I took Benjamin to see D.C. United play the Houston Dynamo this past Saturday evening. The game time was at 6:00 PM, which is perfect for us as we can watch the game and get home at a decent hour. Memo to D.C. United, schedule a couple more of these 6:00 PM games please!

Readers of this blog know I love taking sports pictures but I left my camera at home this time as I really wanted to explain parts of the game to Benjamin as we were watching it. Benjamin already knows a lot about soccer having played the past three years. He would comment on a plays as the game progressed but one comment stuck with me after the ball bounced off the goal post. He said "Daddy, that's the goalie's best friend" so I told him he was correct and asked him where he learned that and he said "I heard you say it when you were watching the Caps and the puck hit the goal post"

He's got an amazing memory. We enjoyed the game very much and I captured this image with the camera on my phone.

Orioles at Nationals: The Battle of the Beltway

Saturday afternoon, June 18th 2011. Nationals Park, Washington DC

I had a third base box seat to this game and thanks to a friend, managed to get on the field as batting practice was winding down. We met Nats Manager Jim Riggleman, who gave each of us an autographed baseball.

The Nationals won their 8th game in a row 4-2 over the Orioles in what is called The Battle of the Beltway.

Enjoy the photo essay. Click on the picture once for a larger view.

Centerfield view of batting practice


Orioles Pitcher Jeremy Guthrie gets his throwing in


Johnny Holliday with 3B's Mark Reynolds and Ryan Zimmerman


O's 3B Mark Reynolds chats with Nats 3B Ryan Zimmerman


Me and Nats Manager Jim Riggleman before the game


Kids greet the Nats players at their position before the game




Nats Pitcher Jordan Zimmermann warms up


Nick Markakis takes a cut


Ryan Zimmerman fields a grounder


Adam Jones circles the bases after his homer in the first inning


Orioles Pitcher Brian Matusz


Jayson Werth: 6 years, $ 126 million and one cool beard


Jayson Werth at bat


Ryan Zimmerman connects for a homer


Derrek Lee is...


Out!


Ivan Rodriguez discusses strategy with Jordan Zimmermann


Nats Catcher Ivan Rodriguez connects


Sequence of Nats Pitcher Jordan Zimmermann














Ryan Zimmerman anticipates a play at third base


Bucky Harris & Walter Johnson: Washington Senators in the Baseball Hall of Fame


Roger Bernadina squares to bunt


Bernadina opts to hit instead


Nats grounds crew. I've always wanted to do this!


Orioles Catcher Matt Wieters


Derrek Lee slides safely into second base


President's Race


Teddy fails to win...again


Orioles Pitcher Brian Matusz


Ryan Zimmerman in the field


Nick Markakis connects


Jayson Werth at bat


Nats Pitcher Jordan Zimmermann makes the put out at first


Nats celebrate after Michael Morse's homer


O's Manager Buck Showalter makes a pitching change


O's Pitcher Brian Matusz leaves the game after hurting his left hamstring


Orioles Reliever Clay Rapada


Nats Danny Espinosa gets caught in a run down


Out!


Nats Catcher Ivan Rodriguez connects


Nats Manager Jim Riggleman appreciates his pitcher's effort


Nats Reliever Henry Rodriguez


Nick Markakis pops up


O's Reliever Brad Bergesen


Ryan Zimmerman at bat




Rodriguez and Rodriguez discuss pitching to the O's next batter


Nats First Baseman Michael Morse at bat


Danny Espinosa at the plate


Nats closer Drew Storen enters with a 4-2 lead


O's Shortstop Robert Andino batting in the 9th inning


Drew Storen gets the last out


Nationals win 4-2!


The autographed baseball I got from Nats Manager Jim Riggleman. Benjamin was thrilled and we have display case for it.