Teams Make Final Preparations for Opener

A day ahead of most other teams, the Washington Nationals opened their new ballpark with a little help from President Bush.

The former Texas Rangers owner, wearing a bright red team jacket, threw the ceremonial first pitch _ high and to the third-base side of the plate _ to Nationals manager Manny Acta before Washington inaugurated National Ballpark against Atlanta before a sellout crowd of about 41,000 on Sunday night.

There was a mixture of boos and cheers for Bush. Those in the upper deck of the $611 million ballpark could see the Capitol and the Washington Monument. The cherry blossoms planted beyond the left-field bleachers weren't yet in bloom.

…