Phillies: Bryce Harper’s top five offensive moments of 2019
Which games featured Bryce Harper at his best in his first season with the Phillies.
When the Phillies signed Bryce Harper to a 13-year contract worth $330 million, top-notch production at the plate would be expected. While Harper got off to a slow start, he came around, got hot and finished with 35 home runs, 114 RBI, both tops on the team.
Harper’s home run total was second-highest of his career and his RBI total crushed his previous best of 100 set in 2018.
Now, we take a look back at Harper’s top five moments at the plate this season.
5. May 7 (Grand slam versus St. Louis)
Entering the game with a 19-15 record, the Phillies sent Aaron Nola to the mound in St. Louis against the Cardinals. After a scoreless first, Philadelphia got more than enough for Nola in the second. Odubel Herrera had a lead-off double and after a walk to Cesar Hernandez, Maikel Franco reached on an error, scoring Herrera.
After another run on a fielder’s choice and walk to Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura lined out. The Cardinals had a chance to get out of the innings allowing only two. Up stepped Harper.
With the bases loaded, Harper drilled a two-and-one offering from Dakota deep to right, way out of the park for a grand slam.
Hey now, you're a rock star, get the show on, get paid. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/l7JgzBNxv4
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 8, 2019
Harper’s first grand slam in a Phillies uniform put the team up, 6-0. The Phillies added five more and cruised to an 11-1 win.
Arron Nola went six innings, allowing only a run on three hits with seven strikeouts. Harper finished 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and four RBI. The home run was his seventh of the season, as the Phillies improved to 2015.
4. May 18 (Home run to center versus Colorado)
The Phillies entered a Saturday afternoon in mid-May against the Rockies with a 26-18 record. Aaron Nola was on the mound again for the Phillies looking for his fourth win without a defeat.
After shutting down the Rockies in the first, the Phils took their turn against Antonio Senzatela.
After getting Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura, Harper stepped to the plate. He was in the middle of an eight-game slump in which he hadn’t recorded a single RBI. That was about to change in the blink of an eye.
Harper drilled the first pitch from Senzatela out to Ashburn Alley in center field. The ball went an estimated 466 feet according to Stacast, Harper’s second-longest of his career and longest at Citizen’s Bank Park since Statcast had been keeping track.
https://twitter.com/Phillies/status/1129846032311959552
Nola was again phenomenal, allowing just a single run in six innings, striking out 12. The 2-1 win improved the Phils record to 26-19 on the season and was the second win of what turned out to be a sweep over the Rockies. Harper’s home run was his eighth of the season.
3. March 30 (First home run as a Phillie)
After a long 2018 offseason for the Phillies and their fans wondering if they’d get the prize of the free agency pool, the Phillies signed their man, inking Bryce Harper to the 13-year contract. The wait to see Harper take the field at Citizen’s Bank Park for the first time as a Phillie seemed even longer.
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The wait was over on March 28 against the Atlanta Braves. The stadium was packed and Harper got the anticipated standing ovations during pregame introductions, heading out to right field in the first, and his first plate appearance. The Phils won the game, 10-4, but Harper went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts at the plate.
The next game two days later, the Phillies again were taking it to the Braves, up 6-4 in the seventh. Harper came to the plate against Philadelphia native and former first round pick Jesse Biddle still looking for his first hit after an 0-for-5 start.
With two outs and none on, Harper slammed a fastball on a 1-1 count deep into the second deck in right-center field. The blast was an estimated 465 feet and put Philadelphia up, 7-4.
No doubt. #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/LhvatQ3WNM
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 30, 2019
Harper hit the home run using the bat of Nick Williams and received a curtain call, energizing the crowd even further. The home run was first of what will likely be very many during Harper’s tenure with the team.
2. July 16 (Walk-off double versus Dodgers)
The Phillies were 1-3 after the All-Star break heading into this one and got embarrassed the night before to the Dodgers at home, 16-2. This game started off in the Phillies favor, leading 6-1 after two which included home runs from Scott Kingery and Brad Miller.
Despite up comfortably early, pitcher Vince Velasquez started to struggle. In fact, he failed to make it out of the fifth, allowing five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. The Phillies still led after five, but the margin was a single run.
After Jose Alvarez, Juan Nicasio and Adam Morgan shut down the Dodgers over the next three, the Phillies took a 6-5 advantage into the ninth. The generally reliable Hector Neris was all over the place, giving up the lead after allowing three earned runs.
The task was daunting to avoid their fourth loss in five games against Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. Andrew Knapp led off with a double, followed by a single by Cesar Hernandez. After an RBI single by Kingery, Philly trailed, 8-7. Harper came up and turned a very probably defeat into a great victory after driving a line drive to center field that fell for a double, scoring two.
https://twitter.com/Phillies/status/1151323806629281793
The win improved the Phillies to 49-46 for the season, and they would kick off a run where they won 8 of 12 games.
1. August 15 (Walk-off grand slam versus Cubs)
Facing the Cubs in an important three-game series at home, the Phillies had already taken the first two. However starting pitcher Drew Smyly struggled, allowing five earned runs and seven hits through five innings. Offensively, the Phillies couldn’t find their way against Yu Darvish, who struck out 10 and allowed only four hits through seven innings.
Juan Nicasio and Ranger Suarez kept the Cubs from adding to their lead from the sixth inning on, allowing only two hits in four innings of relief. The Phillies finally got on the board in the 8th, but still trailed by four heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Jean Segura hit a fly ball to left for an easy out to begin the ninth. After Cesar Hernandez reached on an error, Scott Kingery singled to center. Brad Miller hit a pinch single scoring Hernandez and Kingery advanced to third. Roman Quinn singled off Pedro Strop scoring Kingery and the Phillies were very much alive, down 5-3. After Rhys Hoskins was hit by a pitch, the stage was set for Harper.
Left-handed specialist Derek Holland, who had just been traded from the Giants to the Cubs on July 26, entered the game. After falling behind in the count, Harper battled back to a 2-2 count. Then to the delight of Phillies fans everywhere, Harper smashed a 95-mph fastball just inside off the plate high and deep to right.
https://twitter.com/Phillies/status/1162395845011972096
The ball landed fair into the second deck for a grand slam and a remarkable 7-5 comeback win. Harper sprinted around the bases in near-record time and was mobbed by his teammates.
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No question, that was Harper’s top moment and likely the Phillies top moment of the 2019 season.