Washington Nationals Homestand Highlights vs. Houston Astros (June 17-18) & Atlanta Braves (June 19-22)

Only one week remains for Washington Nationals fans to show their support for their favorite players by punching All-Star ballots at balloting stations around Nationals Park. Fans have until Friday, June 20 to earn a variety of prizes based on the number of ballots they complete by visiting the All-Star Ballot Redemption Station located at the top of Section 109 through the end of the fourth inning of this week's games.

Redemption prizes include "I Voted" stickers (all participants), a rally towel (100 ballots required), a bobblehead (500 ballots required), a Nationals prize pack (1,000 ballots required), two tickets to a future game (5,000 ballots required), one spot for the Starting Nine plus two tickets to that game (10,000 ballots required), and four PNC Diamond Lounge tickets (15,000 ballots required). Online ballots will be accepted until Thursday, July 3 at nationals.com/vote, so vote now and vote often for your favorite Nationals players.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17

• 10^th Annual Night OUT with the Nationals: The Nationals will join Team DC in hosting the annual Night OUT event, one of the largest LGBT nights in professional sports. Several members of the LGBT community will take part in the pregame ceremony, including:
  • Ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Jeremy Bernard, Special Assistant and White House Social Secretary
  • National Anthem will be performed by the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC
  • Lineup card delivery by Chai Feldblum, Commissioner with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
  • Play ball announcement by Chad Griffin, President of the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization
  • Spirit Award will be presented to Pete Cahall, Principal of Wilson Senior High School in D.C., and Bruce Rohr, Chairperson of the ONE Marriott Employee Network Group at Marriott International
  • Happy Hour at the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk starting at 4:30 p.m.

A portion of the proceeds from Night OUT ticket sales will benefit Team DC's scholarship fund. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit nationals.com/nightout or call 202.675.NATS(6287).

• Medal of Honor Presentation: The Nationals will honor Corporal William "Kyle" Carpenter, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret), on the field during the pregame ceremony. On Thursday, June 19, Corporal Carpenter will receive the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama for his courageous actions while serving as an Automatic Rifleman with Company F, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Corporal Carpenter will be the eighth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He will be joined on the field by the Marines who served with him in 2d Battalion, 9th Marines and stood by him throughout his recovery.
• People All-Star Teachers Presented by Target: The Nationals are proud to join MLB, People Magazine and Target in honoring teachers who make a difference in the community. The team's three finalists for the People All-Star Teachers Award will be honored during the pregame ceremony: Sabrina Hayden, Jessica Valoris and Chad Wright. Fans are encouraged to go to allstarteachers.com to vote for the finalist they believe should represent the Nationals at the 2014 All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 15. Voting ends June 29.
• $1 Ice Cream Presented by Good Humor: Fans can purchase select ice cream novelties for just $1 at all Nats Dog stands until the start of the sixth inning or while supplies last. Some restrictions apply.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18

• U.S. Army Day: The second Branch Day of the 2014 season will honor members of the United States Army and the 239^th celebration of the Army Birthday. The pregame ceremony will feature:
  • Ceremonial first pitch thrown by General Raymond T. Odierno, Chief of Staff of the Army
  • Game ball delivery by the Honorable John McHugh, Secretary of the Army
  • Lineup card delivery by SMA Raymond F. Chandler III, Sergeant Major of the Army
  • National Anthem will be performed by United States Army Chorus
  • Continental Color Guard will present our nation's colors along with the United States Army Guard Fife and Drum Corps
  • Starting eight featuring children of Army service members
  • Play ball announcement made by Lieutenant General Mary A. Legere, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, United States Army
  • Performance by the Army Drill Team in center field
  • U.S. Army Blues band "Swamp Romp" will perform at the Miller Lite Scoreboard Walk before the game
• $1 Dogs Presented by Hatfield: Fans will have the opportunity to purchase hot dogs for just $1 at all Nats Dogs stands and additional select locations until the start of the sixth inning. While supplies last, some restrictions apply.

THURSDAY, JUNE 19

• Ladies Night "Garden Thyme" Presented by Majestic: Ladies (and men) are invited to come out and enjoy this year's "Garden Thyme"-themed annual Ladies Night event at Nationals Park, featuring a VIP garden party-inspired pregame happy hour that includes:
  • Live music from The Real Geniuses
  • A fashion show highlighting Majestic women's apparel
  • Nail polish changes by OPI
  • Ten-minute massages from Caressence Therapeutic Massage
  • "Garden Thyme" flower pot mug giveaway and exclusive Ladies Night raffle
  • Dance performances by Urban Artistry
  • Appetizer buffet, signature cocktails and specialty dessert station
  • Henna artists as well as hair and make-up artists will be onsite
  • An appearance by Nationals players
  • Free samples from: MLB Fields of Fashion, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Miller Lite, Heineken, Jack Daniel's and Captain Morgan

While VIP Ladies Night ticket packages are SOLD OUT, fans can still purchase $25 Ladies Night tickets and enjoy the game from the Scoreboard Pavilion. All Ladies Night tickets will include $10 concession credit to be used during the game. Tickets can be purchased online at nationals.com/ladiesnight.  

FRIDAY, JUNE 20

• Bottle Cup Presented by Miller Lite: The first 15,000 fans ages 21 and over to enter Nationals Park through ALL GATES will receive a Nationals bottle cup.
• Ian's Academy All-Stars: Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond will once again invite a group of scholar-athletes from the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy - where Ian sits on the Board of Directors - out to Nationals Park for an opportunity to enjoy a Nationals game. As part of this season-long program, the group will enjoy a private meet and greet with Ian as well as a special batting practice viewing and tickets complete with NatsBucks. For more information on the Youth Baseball Academy, visit nationalsacademy.org. 
• Span's Fans: Nationals center fielder Denard Span will host Span's Fans before the team takes the field. In its second year, Span's Fans is a season-long program that treats children from single-parent families to an evening of Nationals baseball. The group will enjoy a private meet and greet with Denard as well as special batting practice viewing and tickets complete with NatsBucks. Participants are selected in partnership with local single-parent family and youth baseball organizations.

SATURDAY, JUNE 21

• Dream Foundation Weekend:  The Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, the team's charitable arm, works to improve the lives of families across the D.C. Metro area through cornerstone programs focused on children's health, education and recreation. During this year's Foundation Weekend (June 21 - 22), three major milestones will be celebrated: the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Ward 7; the Nationals Diabetes Care Complex at Children's National Medical Center; and the Neighborhood Initiative, a program that recently topped the half million dollar mark in grants awarded to local nonprofits. The pregame ceremonies will include a video presentation about the work of the Dream Foundation and feature guests ranging from Dream Foundation donors to Dream Foundation grantees. Learn more about the Dream Foundation at nationals.com/dream.
• Inside Pitch LIVE: Back by popular demand, this special Q&A session with a Nationals player will be hosted by Nationals broadcaster Dave Jageler in the Norfolk Southern Club. Inside Pitch Live is designed to provide Nationals fans with an up close and personal look at their favorite team, with VIP access to their favorite players, coaches and top executives. The 15 minute session is open to all fans with seats in the Norfolk Southern Club, Lexus Presidents Club or PNC Diamond Club. Player TBD.
• Scout Day #2: Youth scout groups from across the region are invited to Nationals Park for the second Scout Day event of the season. Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, Cub Scouts, Daisies, Eagle Scouts and other groups will receive a commemorative Nationals scouting patch. For more information, visit nationals.com/scout.
• PLAY Clinic: The Nationals training staff will host the 2014 PLAY Clinic to educate local youth about the importance of leading healthy and active lives. Participants will learn about various topics including healthy eating, injury prevention, strength and conditioning, and the dangers of steroid abuse. PLAY, which stands for Promoting a Lifetime of Activity for Youth, is a public awareness campaign founded by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society in partnership with the Taylor Hooton Foundation and MLB Charities. This clinic is not open to the public.

SUNDAY, JUNE 22

• Cap Presented by MASN: The first 20,000 fans to enter Nationals Park through ALL GATES will receive a Nationals cap presented by MASN.
• Champions Day: The Nationals are proud to support youth baseball and softball in the D.C. area with the inaugural Champions Day program, which recognizes teams from across the region that have won championship titles. This is the first of two select days is dedicated to honoring local high school teams that have won their class state championships. These teams will participate in a special Champions Day presentation during the pregame ceremony, and they will receive a DVD copy of the ceremony as well as a team picture. For more information, visit nationals.com/championsday.
• Pups in the Park #3: Nationals fans and their canine friends can enjoy the third Pups in the Park game from a designated Pup Zone in the Family Picnic Area. Featuring pet sitters and representatives from the Washington Humane Society, NOVA Dog Magazine and Fetch! Pet Care, owner tickets are available for $25, while dog tickets cost $10. All proceeds from the dog tickets sold will benefit the Washington Humane Society. To purchase tickets, visit nationals.com/pups or call 202.675.NATS(6287), while supplies last.

PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION

Visit nationals.com/waytogo for information on parking and additional routes to Nationals Park. To receive up-to-date WMATA service notifications on a mobile device, fans are encouraged to register for Alert DC at https://textalert.ema.dc.gov/. New for 2014, MLB.com's popular At The Ballpark mobile app now includes an integrated Metro Trip Planner. For game tickets and more information call 202.675.NATS(6287) or visit nationals.com/tickets.