WASHINGTON (AP Oct 3, 2012) – The NL East champion Washington Nationals secured home-field advantage throughout the postseason by beatingthe Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 Wednesday for their majors-high 98th
victory, with Ryan Zimmerman homering moments after the Teddy
Roosevelt mascot won the Presidents Race at Nationals Park for the first time.
By winning their regular-season finale, the Nationals clinched
top seeding for the NL playoffs and will open on the road Sunday at
the winner of Friday’s wild-card game between Atlanta and St.
Louis.
Game 2 will also be at the wild-card winner’s stadium,
before the best-of-five series shifts to Washington.
Before Wednesday’s game, the Nationals were fitted for hats with
postseason patches.
