2005 Washington Nationals season

MLB yearly infobox
name = Washington Nationals
season = 2005
misc =

current league = National League
y1 = 1969
division = Eastern Division
y2 = 1969
Uniform logo =
ballpark = Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium
y4 = 2005
city = Washington, D.C.
y5 = 2005
owners = Major League Baseball
managers = Frank Robinson
television = MASN
WDCA (UPN 20)
WTTG (Fox 5)
radio = WFED
WWZZ|

The Washington Nationals' 2005 season was the first for the team formerly known as the Montreal Expos since moving to Washington, D. C.. The team signed four key free agents during the off-season: Vinny Castilla, José Guillén Cristian Guzmán and Esteban Loaiza.

Offseason

*January 19, 2005: Esteban Loaiza was signed as a Free Agent with the Washington Nationals. [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/loaizes01.shtml Esteban Loaiza Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ]
*February 7, 2005: Melvin Nieves was signed as a Free Agent with the Washington Nationals. [http://www.baseball-reference.com/n/nieveme01.shtml]

Regular Season

Highlights

*On April 4, 2005, Brad Wilkerson (after being the last player to ever wear a Montreal Expo jersey) had the honor of being the first batter for the Washington Nationals and he promptly responded with the first hit in the new team's history. Nevertheless, Kenny Lofton hit a three-run homer and Jon Lieber pitched 5 2/3 effective innings, leading the home team Philadelphia Phillies to an 8-4 victory over the new Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. (Lieber was credited with the win for the Phillies and would also score a win for Philadelphia in the last game of the 2005 Nationals season.) Outfielder Terrmel Sledge hit the Nats' first home run in the April 4 contest.

* Scorecard: April 4, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA