The game came at an exhilarating time for an organization in the midst of reinventing itself. In the past few years, the former Montreal Expos have overhauled their minor league system and cut loose such prominent veterans as Livan Hernandez, Jose Guillen, Brad Wilkerson, Jose Vidro and Brian Schneider. The club signed young pitchers from the Dominican Republic and elsewhere with an eye on 2009 and beyond. Only five players remain from the Expos team that moved here in 2005. The most senior player, pitcher Luis Ayala, has been with the club for five years.
"We've totally rebuilt our organization," said pitcher Jason Bergmann, 26, who started Saturday night's exhibition against the Orioles at the new park.
The Nationals were 122-121 at RFK Stadium, their home for three years while the new park was being constructed on the Anacostia River waterfront.
