Relive "Nationals Classics": Openers and a Strasmas memory

We're only two days away from the inaugural Nationals game at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Nationals will host the Astros on MASN on Tuesday at 1 p.m., the first look at the new stadium for many in D.C., where springlike temperatures have only heightened the desire to see baseball again.

But here at MASN, we have baseball all winter long, and this week's slate of "Nationals Classics" is perfect for satisfying your need for fastballs, strikeouts and, well, fastballs that become strikeouts.

Included this week is the night that became known around Natstown as Strasmas. Enjoy!

Monday, Feb. 27, 9 a.m. - Remember April 21, 2015? Yunel Escobar sure will. In his first and only season with the Nationals, Escobar hit his first game-ending home run in four years to beat the Cardinals.

Wednesday, March 1, 11:30 p.m. - Opening day on April 1, 2013 gave slugger Bryce Harper and hard-throwing Stephen Strasburg an opportunity to shine against the Marlins. Harper homered twice and Strasburg retired 20 in a row as the Nats prevailed.

Thursday, March 2, 9 a.m. - April 14, 2005 marked the day that baseball returned to the District of Columbia after a long absence, with the Nationals claiming a victory over the Diamondbacks in their first game at RFK Stadium since moving from Montreal. Liván Hernández got the victory and Vinny Castilla homered and drove in four runs in a 5-3 win.

Friday, March 3, 1 p.m. - The Nationals completed a four-game sweep of the Dodgers in their first home series, parlaying a six-run seventh inning into a 7-3 victory on April 17, 2005. Nick Johnson's two-run triple was the key blow in the rally.

Saturday, March 4, 7:30 p.m. - Nationals Park was jam-packed on June 8, 2010, the night Strasburg made his much-ballyhooed major league debut in a 5-2 win over the Pirates. Strasburg fanned 14 batters, electrifying the crowd in a memorable first game.