Rumors have been swirling around our Nation's Capital that this will be the final home opener for the Senators here in DC. Negotiations to move the team after 70 years of baseball here in the District seem to be serious. Owner Bob Short tells us that's just hogwash, but he did say the team needs to pick up its attendance, so he doesn't lose money again. Manager Ted Williams says, "Players need to play and not worry about the off field chatter". The Nats listened to their manager and jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st via a Frank Howard longball. There was no doubt about that shot, which the "Capital Punisher" crushed off of youngster Vida Blue. Oakland chipped away at the Nats 3-0 lead and by the end of 4 innings the game was tied up 3-3. The A's looked to go up in the 6th when Dick Green doubled and Sal Bando tried to score all the way from first. Bando is a good solid young player, but he's not to be confused with Lou Brock on the basepaths. A perfectly executed relay throw from Howard to Harrah to Casanova erased Bando at the plate to end the inning. Oakland again threatened in the 7th by loading the bases, only to see Rick Monday line out to right. Neither team scored the rest of the way, so opening day became extra inning day. The A's had runners on 1st and 2nd in the 10th, but couldn't score off reliever Joe Grzenda. A's reliever Jim Roland recorded two easy outs in the bottom of the frame, then walked Mike Epstein and Joe Foy to put runners on 1st and 2nd. Klimkowski was brought on to face Elliott Maddox who shot a 2-2 pitch through the 3-4 hole to plate Epstein and award the Senators faithful with an opening day win.
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