Nats to host Red Sox in newly created exhibition at Naval Academy

The Nationals' exhibition slate will once again conclude with a game against an American League opponent on South Capitol Street - and then a newly created final game in a unique venue: the United States Naval Academy's field.

The club announced today it will host the Red Sox on March 31 at Nationals Park, then face Boston again the next day at Max Bishop Stadium in Annapolis. It's the first game in a three-year deal the Nationals have struck to play exhibition game at the Naval Academy, with 2018 and 2019 opponents yet to be named.

No public tickets will be available to the April 1 game, which will start at 2 p.m. and be televised by ESPN. All tickets for the 1,500-seat venue will be complimentary to Naval Academy midshipmen, as well as select members of the U.S. Navy.

"One of the Nationals' core community platforms is to support the military, which we do through a variety of initiatives, including our in-game Salute to Service, Military Branch Days and visits by players and coaches to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center," Nationals principal owner Mark Lerner said in a statement released by the team. "It will be an honor for our players and coaches to take part in these games at the Naval Academy, in front of the brave men and women who have committed to serve our country."

This newly created exhibition in Annapolis comes one year after the Braves and Marlins played a regular season game at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

"We're really excited about this partnership with the Washington Nationals to have the opportunity to showcase the Naval Academy on a national stage," said vice admiral Walter E. "Ted" Carter Jr., the academy's superintendent.

The March 31 exhibition game at Nationals Park will continue the Nats' tradition of holding at least one exhibition game in the District after returning from spring training in Florida.

That game is scheduled to start at 4:05 p.m., with tickets on sale to the public now. All season ticket plan holders receive one complimentary ticket to the game.

The Nationals have hosted at least one exhibition game at their home ballpark each year since it opened in 2008, except for 2011 (when the Major League Baseball schedule was tweaked to move opening day to a Thursday instead of the traditional Monday).

Each time, the Nats have played an AL opponent: the Orioles (2008, 2009), Red Sox (2010, 2012), Yankees (2013, 2015), Tigers (2014, though the game rained out), Twins (2016, two games).

This year's game will feature the Red Sox, who after hosting the Nationals at their complex in Fort Myers, Fla., on March 30 will fly north for these two games in the D.C. area before continuing to Boston, where they will host the Pirates on opening day.