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		Citizens Bank Park, a jewel in Philly By Jeremy Kahn July 7, 2010

	PHILADELPHIA-While sitting in the press box at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, one must wonder what it is like to witness a game in Philadelphia. After coming here back in 2007, when the Philadelphia Phillies squared off against the Los Angeles Dodgers, you knew were in Philadelphia; because of the fans’ reactions towards every play. On that night back in 2007, the Dodgers simply throttled the Phillies 15-3; however the Phillies would gain revenge on the Dodgers in the 2008 and 2009 National League Championship Series, as they defeated them on both occasions. Fast forward nearly three seasons, and I am once sitting in the Citizens Bank Park press box, a what night for baseball in the “City of Brotherly Love.” This is actually my second game in as many nights, as the Phillies take on their National League Eastern Division rival Atlanta Braves in a pivotal three-game series. On Tuesday night, the Braves defeated the Phillies 6-3 in 11 innings, as the temperature at first pitch was a whopping 99 degrees. Things did not get off to a good start for the Phillies on Wednesday, as Martin Prado led the game with a solo home run off of 47-year old Jamie Moyer, who is the son in-law of former Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball coach Richard “Digger” Phelps. The Phillies would tie it up in the bottom of the second inning, as former Encinal (Alameda) High School star Jimmy Rollins doubled in Wilson Valdez. Ryan Howard would give the Phillies a 3-1lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, as he hit his 16th home run of the season, a two-run shot over the left-center field. Moyer would give the lead and ultimately the game to the Braves, as he allowed six runs to the Braves in the top of the sixth inning. The big blow came off the bat of Brian McCann, who hit a bases clearing double that gave the Braves the lead for good. Moyer also gave up another home run to Prado, his second home run of the game, and the second multi-home run of his career (both in 2010). Matt Diaz also connected for a two-run home run off of Moyer, which brought Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, marking the end of Moyer’s night. Despite temperatures nearly reached triple figures on both nights, the Phillies achieved sellouts in both games, their 79th and 80th consecutive sellouts since last season. Shane Victorino hit a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Phillies tried to claw their way back into the game. Like at AT&T Park, when the San Francisco Giants when hit a home run, the foghorn blares from center field and here at Citizens Bank Park, a Liberty Bell lights up and swings from side-to-side and the opening of AC/DC’s hit song “Hell’s Bells,” plays around the stadium. Billy Wagner came in the bottom of the ninth inning ,and shut the door on the Phillies and the Braves win the three-game series with a 7-5 victory, lengthening their lead in the National League East to six games over the Phillies.