UPDATE:

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bob Casey, D-Pa. is calling on the Washington Nationals to reverse course on their plan to “Take Back the Park” from Phillies fans.

He has written a letter to Washington Nationals owner Theodore Lerner.

In a news release Thursday, Casey says “Phillies fans should have the same right that every other fan across the country has to purchase tickets and this gimmick by the Washington Nationals should be stopped right away.”

He later tweeted his thoughts on the matter:

.@Phillies have some of the best fans in the world. They shouldn’t be left out in the cold because the Nats want a stronger home field adv.

— Senator Bob Casey (@SenBobCasey) February 9, 2012

To read the full letter to Lerner, follow this link.

Friday – 2/3/2012, 4:52pm ET

WASHINGTON – In a pre-emptive strike against those notorious Phillies fans, the Washington Nationals announced Friday they are launching “Take Back the Park.”

Beginning Friday, single game tickets for the May 4-6 Nationals vs. Phillies series will only be available to season ticket holders and fans who live in the Washington, D.C. area before they go on sale to the general public.

A news release from the Nationals notes “This exclusive presale will ensure that the team’s most loyal fans have the first opportunity to purchase tickets to cheer on the Nationals when they play their NL East rivals to the north.”

To purchase tickets, Washington-area fans can register for the presale.

The Nationals will verify registrants’ billing information so tickets can only be mailed to local addresses in Washington, D.C., Virginia or Maryland.

Fans can only buy a minimum of two tickets and up to eight tickets per game in one transaction, while supplies last.

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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)