Nats’ rehearsal at RFK receives good reviews

Less than two hours before the first pitch of the Washington Nationals’ exhibition debut at RFK Stadium on Sunday, a Verizon employee was installing two telephones in the home dugout.

Across the diamond, someone mopped the visiting dugout’s floor. People scaled ladders to stick yellow tape along the top of the outfield’s green fence.

The mad dash to ready RFK for baseball got its first test – and everyone from team officials to manager Frank Robinson to players to fans gave a similar assessment after the Nationals’ 4-3 loss to the New York Mets:

Wow, they pulled it off! Now there are 1 1/2 weeks to iron out whatever wrinkles remain ahead of the April 14 home opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“I compare it to playing off-Broadway,” Robinson said. “Get the kinks out and get ready for opening night.”

There were still signals that Sunday was merely a dress rehearsal. That’s understandable, given that RFK hasn’t housed a baseball team since the Senators left after the 1971 season.

“I’m pretty happy. I’m also apprehensive. I want to make sure everything’s going to work properly. I’ll breathe a little easier at the end of the day today,” Nationals president Tony Tavares said. “We can’t lose focus that the real job is making sure that we’re done and ready to go on the 14th.”

But, as catcher Brian Schneider put it: “The biggest surprise was how good the field looked.”

Mets first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz was less generous, saying, “Although it’s not the best field, it’s really far from the worst.”

Two quirks immediately apparent were the large foul territory and the way balls carry. Three of the first five hits went over the recently constructed fence: Ryan Church hit a three-run shot in the second inning for Washington (he later left with a groin injury but said he’ll be able to play Monday), and Cliff Floyd and David Wright homered consecutively in the fourth for New York.

The Nationals sold 25,453 tickets for the game; the Expos drew crowds that large just twice in 81 home games last season.

Lyon gets nod of Aquino as Arizona’s closer

Brandon Lyon’s terrific spring has won him the closer’s role for the Arizona Diamondbacks over Greg Aquino, who had 16 saves in 19 opportunities as a rookie last year.

Lyon, who missed all of last season after having surgery on the ulnar nerve in his elbow, had a 0.69 earned run average in 11 appearances this spring. The right-hander allowed one run and four hits in 13 innings, striking out 13 without a walk.

Aquino’s spring was slowed by a sore elbow, but he had pitched better lately.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Aquino is back in that role at some point. He’s been coming along nicely, but the way it’s going to start is Brandon’s going to have the ball last,” manager Bob Melvin said.

Cubs put reluctant Prior on DL

Although he doesn’t like it, Mark Prior will start the season on the disabled list for a second straight year.

“I didn’t want to go on the DL. I still don’t want to go on the DL,” Prior said before the Chicago Cubs’ worked out at Bank One Ballpark. “I don’t consider myself injured like last year when I couldn’t even go out and throw.”

Manager Dusty Baker said since Prior couldn’t throw for a week because of a sore elbow, he needs to build up his endurance. He’s scheduled to start for Triple-A Iowa in its season opener at Albuquerque on Thursday.

Clearing the bases

Mets right-hander Kris Benson felt some tightness while throwing in the bullpen and will not accompany the team to Cincinnati for the season opener. … Magglio Ordonez said he has recovered from an intestinal ailment that sidelined him for four days, and will be in the Tigers’ opening day lineup today. … The Rockies placed third baseman Garrett Atkins on the 15-day DL with a strained right hamstring. Colorado recalled third baseman Jeff Baker from Double-A Tulsa.