Nationals going deep next spring in Florida

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By Ben Goessling

The Washington Nationals' 2009 spring training schedule is set, stretching a week longer than usual and taking the team to parts of Florida it doesn't typically visit.

The slate includes 33 games (including an exhibition against Italy's World Baseball Classic team) in 37 days. Pitchers and catchers report Feb. 14, and the Nationals play their first game against Houston on Feb. 25.

Washington will break camp April 2 before a pair of exhibition games against the Baltimore Orioles - one in Norfolk, the home of Baltimore's Class AAA affiliate, on April 3. The Nationals finish their spring schedule April 4 at Nationals Park before heading back to Florida for the April 6 opener against the Marlins.

The Nationals also will make a pair of three-hour drives from their complex in Viera, Fla., at the end of camp to play the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin on April 1 and the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater on April 2.

Tickets for the Nationals Park game will go on sale with the rest of the team's single-game tickets in February. Fans can purchase tickets for the rest of Washington's home games by visiting the Space Coast Stadium box office, visiting nationals.com or calling 888/632-6287.

The schedule is as follows:

February

Opponent (location)Time

25at Houston (Kissimmee)1:05 p.m.

26vs. Detroit (Viera)1:05 p.m.