Live Radio

PHOTOS: Opening Day 2020 at Nationals Park

Abigail Constantino | aconstantino@wtop.com
Zeke Hartner | zhartner@wtop.com

July 23, 2020, 11:49 PM

The pandemic-shortened Major League Baseball season finally started Thursday night, with zero fans, Nationals star Juan Soto sidelined by COVID-19 and a 4-1 storm-halted victory for the New York Yankees over reigning champ Washington behind Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge.

Here are some sights from inside and outside Nationals Park during Opining Date.
From left, Rob Johnston of Alexandria, Va., and his son Robbie, 15, take a photo with Ted Peters of Haymarket, Va., who calls himself “Captain Obvious” outside Nationals Park before the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals play an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
2/33
Will Vizcarra of Arlington, Va., wears a 2019 Nationals World Championship hat outside Nationals Park before the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals play an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
3/33
Hayden Bluth holds up a sign that reads “Sell Us Tickets” as he screams the same thing outside Nationals Park before the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals play an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
4/33
A “Black Lives Matter Unity” image is displayed on a large digital screen at Nationals Park before the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals play an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
nats 5/33
The Washington Nationals play their home opener against the New York Yankees on Thursday night. (John Domen/WTOP)
nats merch 6/33
Nationals merchandise at the store at Nats Park during their home opener on Thursday, July 23, 2020. (John Domen/WTOP)
nats 7/33
Championship jerseys are on display and for sale at the store. (John Domen/WTOP)
8/33
People social distance at an outdoor bar outside Nationals Park before the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals play an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
9/33
A dog wears a Nationals’s scarf as it sits next to people social distancing at an outdoor bar outside Nationals Park before the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals play an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
10/33
The Dome of the U.S. Capitol is visible as a Washington Nationals fan wearing a Juan Soto jersey walks outside Nationals Park before the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals play an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
11/33
From left, Rob Johnston of Alexandria, Va., and his son Robbie, 15, take a photo with Ted Peters of Haymarket, Va., who calls himself “Captain Obvious” outside Nationals Park before the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals play an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
12/33
A woman wears a Nationals’ World Championship mask outside Nationals Park before the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals play an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
13/33
People watch the game from the Top of the Yard bar on the rooftop of Hampton Inn & Suites hotel during an opening day baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
A 2019 World Series champions sign is displayed during the Washington Nationals baseball practice at Nationals Park, Wednesday, July 22, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals kneel while holding a black ribbon to honor Black Lives Matter before playing an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. before the start of the first inning of an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
An overall view of Nationals Park during the Washington Nationals baseball practice, Wednesday, July 22, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
The New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals hold a black ribbon to honor Black Lives Matter before playing an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez (4) and shortstop Trea Turner (7) kneel and hold a piece of black fabric before an opening day baseball game against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Members of Washington Nationals kneel and hold a piece of black fabric before an opening day baseball game against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci, center, holds his hat during the playing of the National Anthem before throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park at an opening day baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci throws out the ceremonial first pitch at Nationals Park before the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals play an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
22/33
Ceremonial first pitch is thrown by Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases before the start of the first inning of an opening day baseball game between the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Ceremonial first pitch is thrown by Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases before the start of the during the first inning of an opening day baseball game between the New York Yankees and Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
24/33
Dr. Anthony Fauci meets Nationals closer Sean Doolittle after the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day. (Courtesy Washington Nationals)
25/33
Dr. Anthony Fauci and Nationals closer Sean Doolittle pose after the ceremonial first pitch on Opening Day. (Courtesy Washington Nationals)
Members of Washington Nationals and against the New York Yankees kneel and hold a piece of black fabric before an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
The New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals take the field for opening ceremonies before playing an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws the first pitch to New York Yankees’ Aaron Hicks at Nationals Park during an opening day baseball game, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Washington Nationals Adam Eaton celebrates his solo homer against the New York Yankees during the first inning of an opening day baseball game at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
30/33
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, center, smiles as he watches an opening day baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
31/33
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer throws during the fourth inning of an opening day baseball game against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
A bolt of lightning comes down from the clouds during the sixth inning of an opening day baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the New York Yankees at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Rain and lighting halt an opening day baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, Thursday, July 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Abigail Constantino

Abigail Constantino started her journalism career writing for a local newspaper in Fairfax County, Virginia. She is a graduate of American University and The George Washington University.

aconstantino@wtop.com
Zeke Hartner

Zeke Hartner is a digital writer/editor who has been with WTOP since 2017. He is a graduate of North Carolina State University’s Political Science program and an avid news junkie.

zhartner@wtop.com

Related News

Recommended

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up