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Phillies

Bryce Harper Helps Phillies Stay Afloat, Says “Hi” to Fans at Citi Field

Bob Wankel

By Bob Wankel

Published:

PHOTO CREDIT: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Hell of a week for the Phillies, right?

  • Sunday: Father’s Day blowout loss
  • Monday: off
  • Tuesday: sticky substance catastrophe, Max Scherzer almost removes his pants at mound, Joe Girardi ejected, Phils leave ’em loaded in one-run loss
  • Wednesday: Girardi called a con artist by Nats GM Mike Rizzo, Phils blow separate five, four, and one-run leads, lose
  • Thursday: off
  • Friday (Game 1): waste historic pitching performance by Aaron Nola, in part, because the first baseman (with sunglasses on his hat) loses a throw from the pitcher in the sun

By the time Dominic Smith singled home Francisco Lindor in extra innings to win Game 1 for the Mets yesterday, it was virtually impossible to imagine a worse week for a Major League Baseball team.

Battered and flailing against the ropes following yet another direct punch to both parts of their collective groin, the Phillies sat six games back and turned to Matt Moore, owner of a 7.36 ERA, to keep things from getting totally out of hand.

To his credit, Moore gave the Phillies five important shutout innings, aided by a phenomenal home run-saving catch from left fielder Andrew McCutchen.

Still, the Phillies found themselves tied heading into the top of the sixth due to a complete offensive failure:

Over the first 13 innings of the day, the Phillies compiled five total hits. The breakdown looked like this:

  • Aaron Nola: 2-for-2
  • Rafael Marchan: 2-for-2
  • All other Phillies: 1-for-39

Even with the game tied, it felt like the Phillies were headed for another gut-wrenching, dismal, brutal, back-breaking loss. Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philly tweeted the term “vomit-inducing” after Game 1, which I think I may add to my repertoire moving forward. Thanks, Jim.

Despite what felt like another inevitable mess lingering in the Queens air, Bryce Harper promptly took charge by delivering a massive go-ahead solo (surprise!) homer. It was just the Phillies’ third and final hit of the night, but it was a big one.

On his way back to the dugout, Harper had a little something for the fans gathered at Citi Field.

After the game, I asked him about the public display of affection. Was he just getting his own guys fired up? Was he catching some extra shit out there and needed to let everyone know about it, or what?

“I mean, fired up at the boys, of course, and then I have a lot of fans here in Citi Field,” Harper said with a light chuckle. “Just thought I’d say hi and let them know I’m still here.”

Indeed, Harper is still here. So are his teammates, who were able to overcome a third consecutive game featuring a blown save, all by different relievers, to earn a doubleheader split.

Listen, nobody will blame you if you’re not buying into this team following the win, a win that featured:

  • yet another mind-numbing error from Alec Bohm
  • a blown save, set up by that error, from Archie Bradley
  • just three Phillies hits
  • a save by Héctor Neris — on the same day he was demoted as the team’s primary closer

But at the very least, the victory bought the Phillies another day of treading water in the division standings.

Their reward? A date with Jacob deGrom, who has not allowed a run in any of his last five starts. He has surrendered just seven hits and three walks against 43 strikeouts over 27 innings during that stretch.

So there’s that, which is nice.

Bob Wankel
Bob Wankel

Bob Wankel covers the Phillies for Crossing Broad. He is also the Vice President of Sports Betting Content at SportRadar. On Twitter: @Bob_Wankel E-mail: b.wankel@sportradar.com

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