Obama declines Nationals' first-pitch bid

WASHINGTON, April 10 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama has declined an invitation to throw out the first pitch for the Washington Nationals' home opener, the White House said Friday.

White House spokesman Tommy Vietor told The Washington Post the president -- a longtime fan of the Chicago White Sox -- would not throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the Nationals play the Philadelphia Phillies Monday at Nationals Park in Washington. The report did not specify a reason for the decision.

Obama returned to the White House this week from an eight-day trip to Europe and the Middle East, and is scheduled to travel next week to Mexico and Trinidad. Because he was traveling, he declined an invitation to toss out the first pitch for the White Sox home opener this week.

Vice President Joe Biden threw out the first pitch Monday when the Baltimore Orioles played their 2009 home opener against the New York Yankees.