There is nothing like sitting under a beautiful sunset at an MLB game. It's even more exciting when it's your favorite team and the ballpark is PACKED.
This game was the Atlanta Braves vs Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies had been coming off of an offseason where they had signed Andrew McCutchen, David Robertson, and landed the big prize of the offseason, Bryce Harper. This game was Bryce Harper’s second game as a Phillie, so the excitement for the Phillies this year was the most it had been in years. It was so nice and refreshing to see Citizens Bank Park completely sold out. Something that had not occurred in about 7 years prior. It also did not hurt that it was a beautiful night in Philly.
Seeing Citizens Bank Park completely sold out was an absolutely beautiful thing. Seeing the sea of red, white, and blue is just so beautiful. As a lifelong Phillies fan, I have been there through their failures and their successes. CBP was almost always sold out from 2007-2011. After that, the Phillies began rebuilding and attendance just wasn't what it once was. That changed after the Phillies' magnificent offseason prior to the 2019 season.
You could feel the excitement in the air during this game even though it was only the second game of the regular season. The energy for the Phillies this year was just amazing and through the roof. Whenever Bryce Harper came to bat, he received a standing ovation for signing with the Phillies.
During Bryce Harper's third at-bat came the most memorable moment of the game. Harper worked a 1-1 count against Braves pitcher (also former Phillies top prospect) Jesse Biddle. Harper then ripped a ball into the upper deck for his first home run with the Phillies. I had NEVER seen so many people stand up at the same time when he crushed this homer. I sure was ecstatic and couldn't believe the energy around the ballpark! Harper then came back out of the dugout for a curtain call that shook the entire ballpark.
The Phillies won that game by a score of 8-6 to move to 2-0 on the season.
With the recent announcement that the Phillies will be allowing 8,800 fans into Citizens Bank Park for regular season games during the 2021 season, we are getting closer and closer to getting those great fan reactions at games again. Stay strong, sports fans. We are almost there! GO PHILS!
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