• It's that old, tired line: a story with a Hollywood ending, or a story with an ending that even Hollywood would consider unrealistic. (Although with the writers still rusty after their strike, they might at least consider it.) But admit it: when Ryan Zimmerman came up to bat with two outs in the bottom of the ninth of a 2-2 game (that the Braves tied in the top of the inning on a passed ball), you thought to yourself, "wouldn't it be great it he hit it out?" Well, he did, and it was. "I couldn't have written the script any better," manager Manny Acta said. Nats beat the Braves, 3-2, in the 2008 season opener and the inaugural regular season game at Nationals Park. (Box score)
• "Nothing could spoil last night for the Washington Nationals," writes Dan Daly. "I'm pretty sure Congress passed legislation to that effect last week."
• Well, it wasn't exactly a perfect night: the team put Elijah Dukes on the DL after the game after he aggravated his right hamstring during the game; he left after the fifth inning. His roster spot will be taken by pitcher Chris Schroder, called up from Triple-A.
• Chad Cordero was unavailable to close last night because of tendinitis in his right shoulder; he reported feeling a "sharp pain" playing catch before the game. Jon Rauch, who came on in the ninth and suffered the blown save, will close until Cordero healthy, which he hopes will be only a couple of days.
• Nick Johnson made his return last night, picking up an RBI double (the first RBI in regular season Nats Park history) in his first at bat since breaking his leg in September 2006. "It was great. It was pretty cool," Johnson said. "There was a lot of fun out there. Great time."

More on the ballpark opening itself in a later post.