For most fans, the rebuilding of the Philadelphia Phillies seemed to last forever, but finally brighter days may be on the horizon with the conclusion the arrival of Bryce Harper.
Opening weekend was huge, with fans packed to the rafters of Citizens Bank Park for the first time in a while. Fans were elated to see their new young team start off their 2019 season. Many in high hopes of this season, and for good reason too.
With the emergence of young talent stepping up to the plate with Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper leading the charge.
“I’m a Mets fan so as you know I’m not the biggest Phillies fan,” Tyree Holmes, a senior computer systems major, said. “But I gotta say I’m happy for them and the direction that they’re going. And I know that the Mets will see them a lot of games this season and beat them every game so yeah. There’s that.”
Opening day begun with a slam, a grand slam, from Hoskins in the seventh inning. The Phillies took on the Atlanta Braves Thursday, March 28 and won much to the joy of Phillies fans with a final score of 10-4.
The hype was carried over to the Saturday, March 30 game against the Braves again. Fans’ doubts were quickly dismissed about Harper’s talents after he crushed a 465 foot home run to right field at the bottom of the seventh inning. The fans carried the spirit of the blossoming winning streak with MVP chants for Harper echoing through the stadium. All in just the second game of the season ending in a score of 8-6 for another Phillies win.
The momentum did not stop there. By Sunday it was the third and final game against the Atlanta Braves.
And Phillies came to play.
“It’s been really nice to see a Philly team doing well for once,” Alexis Goldstein, a sophomore criminology and psychology major, said. “I’ve been waiting for this for a while and it finally looks like we’re getting the season we’ve deserved.”
For the third and final game of the weekend against the Braves, the Philadelphia team did not disappoint with another victory ending in a 5-1 score. Fans were entertained by 398 foot home run by Bryce Harper reinstilling some Phillie pride in their team. Clearly this season is shaping up to be a good one for Philadelphia.
“They went like 3-0 and it’s actually pretty cool that they won at home all three games.” Jack Sanders, a senior secondary ed major, said.
They hope to carry this momentum throughout the season.
