WASHINGTON – The Nationals home opener is two weeks away on April 7.

But fans who can’t wait to hear the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd will be able to catch a baseball game at Nats Park next week.

“This year we’re fortunate enough to have two exhibition games, which we haven’t had in many, many years,” Nationals Vice President for Community Engagement Gregory McCarthy tells WTOP.

The Nats will host the Twins for a 6:05 p.m. game on April 1 and a 12:05 p.m. game on April 2.

For the Friday game, the team plans to start a new tradition.

“We were looking to really pay tribute to our fans and do something different,” McCarthy says. So free tickets have been distributed to season ticketholders and community groups.

Also, a limited number of general admission tickets will be available at the Nationals box office starting at 10 a.m. on the day of the game.

To snag a general admission ticket, all fans have to do is make a $10 donation to the Nationals Dream Foundation.

For the Friday game, only seats in the ballpark’s lower bowl will be open.

“That’s a way for us too to have, in effect, a soft opening. There are a lot of new features in the park.”

The team says it will reveal details about those features next week.

Fans interested in the Saturday exhibition game don’t have to wait to buy tickets. They’re available online and at the Nationals box office now.