Tonight, it really counts at new Nationals Park.

The National League season begins when the Atlanta Braves visit the Nationals (7 p.m., ESPN), the first official game at the new $600-million-plus stadium in Washington, D.C.

The dress rehearsal was Saturday night when the Nationals beat the neighbor Baltimore Orioles 3-0 before a crowd of about 25,000. Workers were putting finishing touches on the park -- including the curly"W"in center field. The stadium is close enough to downtown Washington that you can see the Capitol Building dome beyond the left-field fence.

So long, RFK Stadium -- the long-ago home of the Redskins and the old Senators, and the Nationals since 2004.

"It's a new feel. It makes us a little bit more excited to come here every day, and it gives us a sense of pride,"Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman said."It's going to be tough to beat us here."

The Orioles'Aubrey Huff -- from White Settlement Brewer -- agreed, saying"It sure beats last year's park -- unbelievable clubhouse and a beautiful field. It's definitely a good thing for the city."

A game with meaning in Memphis

This was more than just a baseball game in Memphis. This was symbolism.

The annual Civil Rights Game on Saturday night brought the New York Mets and Chicago White Sox to AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, only a short way north of the National Civil Rights Museum, the former Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed 40 years ago.

"Anytime you can bring attention to a part of our society that needs improvement, and you have a chance to make things better as a result of your participation, you can only be supportive of it,"said White Sox general manager Ken Williams, who is black.

Grammy Award-winning artist BeBe Winans sangI Have A Dreamwith a Memphis-area gospel choir and later the national anthem. Honored in pregame ceremonies were actress Ruby Dee (baseball's Beacon of Change award), Frank Robinson (Beacon of Life award) and late publisher John H. Johnson (Beacon of Hope award).

"The game is an awareness of what happened in the past, not just to Martin Luther King, but in general,"Mets infielder Damion Easley said. Both teams toured the National Civil Rights Museum, and several players said they got chills standing in the room King exited before his assassination.

Astros release Williams

Woody Williams was put on unconditional release waivers, although Houston owes the 41-year-old right-hander $6.5 million. That leaves Chris Sampson as the Astros'fifth starter.

Williams was 8-15 with a 5.27 ERA last season, had an 11.32 ERA in spring training this year, and gave up five runs and five hits in three innings Friday in a 10-0 loss to Detroit.

Astros first baseman Lance Berkman said the release was"possibly a bit premature. The game is completely different in the regular season than it is in spring training, especially from a guy like Woody, who has been around the block a few times."

Williams reportedly plans to retire.

Meanwhile, the Astros beat the Tigers 9-4 on Saturday, with Ty Wigginton's three-run homer keying a five-run sixth inning.

Enter the Coliseum

As he walked down the Los Angeles Coliseum tunnel and glanced toward the left-field screen, Boston catcher Jason Varitek smiled and said sarcastically:"Wakie is a fly ball pitcher. That's great."

Asterisk or not, Barry Bonds became baseball's home run king Tuesday, hitting No. 756 to break Hank Aaron's record.

The San Francisco slugger blasted a 3-2 pitch from Washington left-hander Mike Bacsik into the seats in right-center field in the fifth inning.

Is Bonds, tied to the BALCO scandal and alleged steroid use, now the greatest power hitter of all time?

Let the debate begin.

Arlington connection

Bacsik is a former Ranger from Duncanville High."Me and Al Downing [who gave up 715 to Aaron] can do card shows together and sign famous autographs for being the guy,"Bacsik said before the game. Bacsik's father, an Arlington resident also named Mike and also a former Ranger, faced Aaron twice when Aaron had 755 home runs.

There, not there

Bonds'godfather, Willie Mays, and Frank Robinson from the commissioner's office were at the game. Commissioner Bud Selig, Aaron and Bonds'former personal trainer, jailed Greg Anderson, weren't.

Who caught the ball?

A fan wearing a Mets jersey, Matt Murphy of New York, emerged with the souvenir and a bloodied face, and was whisked away by security.

Most powerful?

Bonds has homered once every 12.9 at-bats in his career, better than Babe Ruth (13.2) or Hank Aaron (16.4).

For the ages

When Aaron hit his last home run (off the Angels'Dick Drago on July 20, 1976) his age was 42 years, 98 days. Bonds was 43 years, 14 days Tuesday.

BONDS'HOMER HISTORY, 6D

Atlanta Braves outfielder Willie Harris reacts in the dugout near the end of a 10-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds during their baseball game at Turner Field in Atlanta Monday, July 16, 2007. " align="left" border="0">

Who needs Ken Griffey Jr. when you've got the great Bobby Livingston? "That's no fun," Griffey said with a big grin. "It just takes me out of my pinch-hitting role. They'll call on him now." Griffey passed Frank Robinson for sixth place on the career home run list, and Livingston, a relatively unknown pitcher called up by Cincinnati before the game, went 4-for-4 with an RBI in the Reds' 10-3 victory...

Cincinnati Reds' Adam Dunn hits a two-run home run off Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Micah Owings in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 6, 2007, in Cincinnati. Arizona catcher Chris Snyder is at right. " align="left" border="0">

Kyle Lohse and the Cincinnati Reds know they're in no position to be greedy. Lohse took a one-hit shutout into the ninth inning before giving up three hits and a run and Ken Griffey Jr. tied Frank Robinson for sixth place on the career home run list as the Reds -- who went into the game with the worst record in the majors leagues -- beat the slumping Arizona Diamondbacks 8-1 on Friday night.