WASHINGTON — Despite rising temperatures, the energy of 40,015 Washington Nationals fans just got higher. With temperatures reaching 94 degrees on Sunday, the Nats still pulled off a 9-2 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. After pitcher Max Scherzer’s rare no-hitter on Saturday, the fans were even more inclined to show their support for the team on the following day.
The Nationals started out strong with a whopping nine points scored in the first inning. Outfielder Bryce Harper shocked fans with a successful homerun coming off of an injury. Nats fan Anne Smith said, “I love him. I have a Harper Nation flag hanging over my desk.” Baseball enthusiast Joyce Schwartz says that the Washington Nationals also seem like genuinely nice people.
Screech, the team’s mascot, arrived at the game with an eagle chick in tow to celebrate Father’s Day. Other fans joined in the festivities by representing multiple generations of Nationals fans.
Even the rivals got in on the action. Pittsburgh residents Mark Halligan and his 10-year-old son, Declan, were excited to represent the Pirates. Declan was in D.C. for a baseball tournament. He has been playing for three years and has attended numerous Pirates games as well. “Every year we try to visit a different stadium,” his dad said. Even though the game did not go as they had hoped, they were still able to enjoy snow cones on a sunny day.
“My husband and I come probably six times a year. We’re big fans,” Schwartz says while in line at the Shake Shack. She thinks that the Nationals are the best sports team in the District. Previously in favor of the Baltimore Orioles, she was happy to change her allegiance to the Washington Nationals.
Another Nats aficionado, Ray O’Neill, also attends about six games a year. “I never really watched baseball until the Nats came to town,” he said. He has high hopes for the season and expects them to win the pennant.