Citizens Bank Park “Firsts”

May 9th, 2024

Twenty years ago, the Phillies opened their new home, Citizens Bank Park.

Returning from a 1-5 road trip to Pittsburgh and Miami, the Phillies faced the Cincinnati Reds on a windy, 48-degree Monday afternoon. 41,626 were on hand for the historic game. The Reds won, 4-1, the same final score at the inaugural Veterans Stadium game in 1971. The Phillies defeated the Montreal Expos on that chilly afternoon (April 10).

The following is a list of "firsts" at Citizens Bank Park, April 12, 2004:

Pitch: Phillies starting pitcher Randy Wolf (1:32 p.m. ET)
Batter: Reds second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez
Hit: Jimenez (double, first inning)
Single: Reds third baseman Ryan Freel (second inning)
Single by a Phillie: Wolf (third inning)
Double by a Phillie: First baseman Jim Thome (first inning)
Triple: Reds right fielder Austin Kearna (ninth inning)
Home run: Bobby Abreu (first inning)
Walk: Reds catcher Jason LaRue (second inning)
Walk by a Phillie: Center fielder Marlon Byrd (third inning)
Sacrifice bunt: Reds right-hander Paul Wilson (second inning)
Stolen base: Byrd (third inning)
Run: Jimenez (first inning)
Run by a Phillie: Abreu (first inning)
RBI: Abreu (first inning)
Strikeout: Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. by Wolf (first inning)
Wild pitch: Wolf (first inning)
Win: Wilson
Loss: Wolf
Save: Reds right-hander Danny Graves

Other firsts in chronological order
Postponement: Phillies vs. Reds, April 14, 2004 (rain)
Win by a Phillie: Left-hander Rheal Cormier, April 15, 2004, vs. Cincinnati
Save by a Phillie: Left-hander Billy Wagner, April 15, 2004, vs. Cincinnati
Night game: April 16, 2004 (Phillies 4, Expos 2)
Four-hit game: Thome, April 16, 2004, vs. Montreal
Triple by a Phillie: Shortstop Jimmy Rollins, April 18, 2004, vs. Montreal
Error: Thome, April 20, 2004, vs. Florida
Extra-inning game: April 21, 2004 (Marlins 8, Phillies 7 in 12 innings)
Multihomer performance: Marlins third baseman Mike Lowell (three), April 21, 2004
Shutout: April 30, 2004 (Phillies 4, D-backs 0)
Grand slam: Braves center fielder Andruw Jones, May 27, 2004
Day-night doubleheader: June 17, 2004, vs. Detroit
Inside-the-park home run: Rollins, June 20, 2004, vs. Kansas City
Cycle: Phillies third baseman David Bell, June 28, 2004, vs. Montreal
Triple play: Todd Pratt vs. Houston, Aug. 19, 2004 (Morgan Ensberg to Jeff Kent to Mike Lamb)
Grand slam by a Phillie: Byrd, Aug. 29, 2004, vs. Milwaukee
Twinight doubleheader: Sept. 29, 2004, vs. Pittsburgh