Although the weather on Tuesday night in Philadelphia wasn’t exactly ideal for baseball, Bryce Harper made the game memorable by helping the Phillies defeat the Cincinnati Reds 9-4.
Harper made baseball history in the face of persistent drizzle and 40-degree temps. Harper hit three home runs at Citizens Bank Park in the season after beginning the year 0-for-11 with five strikeouts. In his first two at-bats against Reds starter Graham Ashcraft, he smashed solo home runs. In the eighth inning, against lefty Brent Suter, he blasted a grand slam.
Harper had his second three-home run game of the season and his 26th multi-home run game overall. His final total of six RBIs was a career high. Harper reached a personal milestone by scoring his 1,000th run with the first home run.
Harper became the fifth player in the last 25 years and the 20th player in Phillies history to go deep three times in a game. After starting the game hitless for the season, he also became the first player in history to hit three home homers.
“It felt good going up there and hitting three homers,” Harper stated. “It was really cool.”
Harper had never had a bad start to a season before this year, but he told reporters following the game that he wasn’t beating himself up for the lackluster start.
Harper remarked, “I’ve felt really good.” That’s obviously not what you were hoping for. In the Atlanta series, I felt like I had some very solid swings, and yesterday was no different. All I’m doing is attempting to maintain this and build that up.”
When Harper last hit three home runs in a single game, it was against his Miami Marlins-playing colleague J.T. Realmuto while he was a member of the Washington Nationals. Realmuto recalls every aspect of that match.
Realmuto stated, “It was a fastball for the first home run.” “We attempted to fastball up and in on the next one, but we missed middle-middle. The second home run was that. The last one, I would like to suggest, might have been a changeup intended for the third home run.”
That year, Harper went on to win the title of National League Most Valuable Player. Realmuto stated, “That’s a good sign for Bryce this year.”
Harper was always going to have a big game, according to manager Rob Thomson, since “that’s what great players do.”
Thomson remarked, “They have big nights like that.” For him, it’s always only a matter of time. He can hit really well. With Bryce, I’m not particularly concerned.”
Harper is hoping that the team’s performance on Tuesday will provide the much-needed boost in the right direction.
“Definitely happy the way the night went, but just want to keep going, turn the page,” Harper stated. “Hopefully, you know, this was the beginning of us winning [a World Series].” That would be awesome.
Be the first to comment