Categories: 2019 Postgame Recaps

Bryce Harper homers twice, Phillies beat Giants

Bryce Harper launched two home runs Friday night. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)

Sometimes, you need your best player to step up and carry you to a victory. Friday night, Bryce Harper did that for the Philadelphia Phillies (60-56) in a crucial victory over the San Francisco Giants (57-60).

The Giants kicked off the scoring in the bottom of the second when Kevin Pillar lined a ball just inside the left field foul poll for a solo home run.

The Phillies would get back that run back – and then some – in the top of the third inning. Following walks from Drew Smyly and Harper, Rhys Hoskins singled into left field to load the bases. Corey Dickerson promptly unloaded the bases with a triple that, per the NBC Sports Philadelphia telecast, would have been a home run in every other stadium in the sport:

However, the Giants were able to cut the Phillies lead to two in the next half inning, when Joey Rickard tagged Smyly for a 427-foot solo shot.

In the bottom of the fourth the Giants inched even closer, though Smyly was able to limit what could have been an ugly inning. Stephen Vogt lined a ball to left field off Smyly with Buster Posey having walked to lead off the inning. Dickerson lost the ball in the lights, allowing it to go all the way the wall. Pillar would plate Posey with an RBI groundout in the next at-bat, but Vogt was ultimately thrown out by J.T. Realmuto attempting to steal third base on a ball that initially kicked away.

With the Phillies 4-3 lead still intact, Bryce Harper, leading off Friday night, heard “overrated” chants as he walked to home plate at Oracle Park, which may very well be where he had signed last offseason if not for the Phillies willingness to go to 13 years. Harper didn’t waste much time responding to the overrated chants by launching a 420-foot home run and asking the crowd to quiet down after he crossed home plate:

While the spot that Harper’s home run landed was reminiscent of Barry Bonds’ record-breaking 756th career home run, Vogt would hit a home run even more reminiscent of Bonds to tie the game:

A Donovan Solano bloop single broke the 5-5 tie, and had it not been for an Adam Haseley diving catch to end the bottom of the sixth, the Giants would have added at least one more run.

Just as it appeared the Giants had seized all momentum, reliever Tony Watson walked Sean Rodriguez after Haseley scorched a ball so hard that it ate up three-time Gold Glove Award winner Brandon Crawford at shortstop. That brought Harper to the plate, and while he just missed launching the first two strikes in the at-bat, the third time was the charm for the 26-year-old:

As impressive as Vogt’s shot into McCovey Cove may have been, Harper’s went 456 feet, and even that estimate feels conservative. Though the Phillies would add an additional run on a Realmuto sacrifice fly later in the inning, Harper’s second home run of the night proved to be all the Phillies needed. Mike Morin, Ranger Suarez and Hector Neris each pitched scoreless innings to close out a victory that the Phillies badly needed.

Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance

In 5.2 innings, Drew Smyly allowed seven hits and surrendered six runs, four of which were earned. He also walked three batters and gave up three home runs. After only allowing one run across his first two starts as a Phillie, the 30-year-old lefty has given up nine earned runs in his last two starts.
While Tyler Beede gave up five earned runs in five innings, he only allowed four hits and struck out seven Phillies.

Phillies Nuggets Player of the Game: Bryce Harper

Who else?

With all due respect to Harper’s return to D.C., Friday night was probably the finest game he’s had as a Phillie yet. Never mind that he hit at the top of the order, because his offensive production was as clean-up as it’s been all season.

Harper went 2-4 with two home runs, a walk and four RBIs Friday.

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