Gen. Raymond T. Odierno waves to the fans prior to the start of Game Three of the National League Division Series between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at Nationals Park. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, was a historic day in Washington, D.C. After a 79-year hiatus, a Major League Baseball playoff game was held in the District of Columbia.

Fittingly, there was plenty of pomp and circumstance before the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals played Game 3 of their National League Division Series. And the military played a prominent role.

There was an F-16 fighter flyover following the national anthem. And Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond Odierno received a loud ovation from the Nationals Park record crowd of 45,017 before throwing out the first pitch. The highly regarded Odierno, who made a name for himself as the top U.S. commander in Iraq from September 2008 until September 2010, hurdled a nice pitch after standing on the mound for quite some time after being introduced.

The Intercepts crew was in attendance. Below was our view from right field, as the Nationals took the field to a raucous ovation as Odierno looked on from the mound.
Odierno had a better pitching outing than the Nationals pitching staff, who collectively were roughed up for eight runs and 14 hits as the Cardinals took a 2-1 series lead.

Gen. Raymond Odierno looks on from the mound as the Washington Nationals take the field before the start of Game 3 of the team's series against the St. Louis Cardinals. (Photo By John T. Bennett)