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Phillies: Each of Bryce Harper’s clutch, walk-off career hits

By Matt Rappa |
Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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Three of Bryce Harper’s 12 career walk-offs have come in a Phillies uniform

When the Philadelphia Phillies signed slugging outfielder Bryce Harper to a then-record 13-year, $330 million contract before the 2019 season, in part, it was to make sure he could no longer do damage against them.

Leading up to the highly anticipated, March 2, 2019, signing, the Las Vegas, Nevada, native had played in 927 career games, producing 184 home runs and 521 RBI. During his first and only National League MVP season in 2015, Harper led all of baseball in on-base percentage (.460), slugging percentage (.649), and OPS (1.109). Also, he posted a National League-best 118 runs and 42 home runs.

In 110 career games against the Phillies, in particular, — from his 2012 debut through 2018 while a member of the division-rival Washington Nationals — Harper slashed .271/.378/.519 with 18 doubles, three triples, 24 home runs, and 66 RBI.

Two of those 24 home runs came in walk-off fashion early on in the 2017 season — a two-run shot on May 13, and a three-run shot on April 16.

Overall, the six-time All-Star has 12 career walk-offs (11 hits, one sacrifice fly), producing 22 total RBI. Half of them feature the outfielder slugging a home run. Also, three of the 12 came with and against the Phillies, as well as three against the Mets.

Coincidentally, Harper’s first career walk-off came against the Mets, as well as his most recent in Friday’s series opener to help Joe Girardi‘s squad snap a three-game skid in the shortened, 60-game 2020 season.

We take a look back at each of Harper’s 12 clutch career walk-offs.

Bryce Harper #3 and Jay Bruce #9 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #3 and Jay Bruce #9 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

August 14, 2020; Phillies (6) vs. Mets (5)

The Phillies entered their three-game series opener against the New York Mets desperate for a win. The team had lost three straight games, causing them to fall to 5-9 overall in a season in which each game matters more than ever before in the standings.

Manager Joe Girardi‘s squad was supposed to oppose perennial Cy Young Award candidate Jacob deGrom in the game, however he was a late scratch due to neck stiffness. Instead, they were tasked to face rookie RHP Walker Lockett — and went on to do some damage.

Rookie third baseman Alec Bohm notched his first career RBI in the second, followed by center fielder Roman Quinn hitting a RBI single later in the frame to tie the game at 2. In the fifth inning, down 4-2, catcher J.T. Realmuto slugged his eighth home run of the season, a three-run shot to put the Phillies on top for the first time in the game.

The Mets tied the game against Phillies closer Hector Neris in the ninth.

Harper then told his teammates in the dugout to: “Get me up, give me a chance.” They did just that, and he delivered.

In the latter-half of the ninth, Quinn and Andrew McCutchen hit back-to-back singles to start the rally. Two batters later, Harper came up to the plate and produced a clutch RBI single to right to allow Quinn to maneuver his way away from the Mets catcher at home plate and score the winning run.

“I love those opportunities when I can come through for my team,” Harper said after the game. “We never quit. We never die.”

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

August 15, 2019; Phillies (7) vs. Cubs (5)

Entering the game, the Phillies were four games over .500 and in the thick of the Wild Card race under then-manager Gabe Kapler.

With Phillies southpaw starting pitcher Drew Smyly on the mound, however, the Chicago Cubs were able to do some damage and grab a five-run lead entering the bottom of the eighth.

Through that point, the Phillies offense was not able to solve Yu Darvish, who tossed seven scoreless innings and allowed only four hits while striking out 10 batters. They tacked on their first run with a Corey Dickerson RBI single in the eighth, but it was the ninth that would result in perhaps the most memorable game of Harper’s Phillies tenure so far.

Brad Miller and Roman Quinn each notched RBI singles to shrink the Phillies deficit to two runs. Then, after Rhys Hoskins was hit by a pitch to load the bases with only one out, Harper came to the plate and the rest was history.

Harper’s walk-off grand slam was the first such hit by a Phillie since John Mayberry Jr. in 2013 and only the 14th such hit in franchise history.

Also, Harper joined Bo Diaz (April 13, 1983 vs. Mets) as the only players in Phillies history to hit a walk-off grand slam after his team trailed by four or more runs in the ninth inning (Harper’s slam was the first hit by a Phillie while while trailing since Ozzie Virgil on September 2, 1983).

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

July 16, 2019; Phillies (9) vs. Dodgers (8)

Less than one month prior to his walk-off grand slam against the Chicago Cubs, Harper notched his first career walk-off in a Phillies uniform opposite the potent Los Angeles Dodgers of the National League West.

In the 9-8 win, Harper powered for five RBI, which, to date, is his most in a single game while donning a Phillies uniform. Also, in the win, Harper produced a three-run home run and two walks, but it was his two-run double in the ninth opposite closer Kenley Jansen that secured the team’s 49th win of the season and caused the Dodgers to fall to 63-34.

Entering the top of the ninth of the eventual Phillies win, then-manager

Gabe Kapler

‘s squad had a 6-5 lead.

Hector Neris

took the mound, relieving southpaw reliever

Adam Morgan

who retired each of his four batters faced in order. The Dodgers’

Max Muncy

and

A.J. Pollock

began the ninth with a walk and single, respectively against Neris; two batters later,

Matt Beaty

slugged a three-run shot to right-center field, putting the Dodgers on top.

Then entered Jansen in the latter-half; with one out, Andrew Knapp and Cesar Hernandez doubled and singled, respectively. With runners on the corners, Scott Kingery hit a RBI single, setting up Harper’s two-run walk-off to deep center field.

To date, this game features Harper’s only career walk-off double.

Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Before Bryce Harper joined the Phillies starting in the 2019 season, he slugged three career walk-offs against them. Two of the three came via a home run in 2017, whereas the first in September of his 2015 MVP season came via a one-run RBI double in the 12th inning.

RELATED | Phillies: Bryce Harper ‘fortunate’ to play in Philadelphia

Here is a summary of Harper’s overall nine career walk-offs in a Nationals uniform, the last of which occurred in his final full month with the team, September 2018:

September 3, 2018; Nationals (4) vs. Cardinals (3)

  • Box score
  • Walk-off sacrifice fly RBI (10th inning)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

June 23, 2017; Nationals (6) vs. Reds (5)

  • Box score
  • Walk-off hit (one-run single, 10th inning)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

May 13, 2017; Nationals (6) vs. Phillies (4)

Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

April 16, 2017; Nationals (6) vs. Phillies (4)

Phillies
Phillies /

Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

September 26, 2015; Nationals (2) vs. Phillies (1)

  • Box score
  • Walk-off hit (one-run double, 12th inning)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

May 9, 2015; Nationals (8) vs. Braves (6)

Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

August 7, 2014; Nationals (5) vs. Mets (3)

  • Box score
  • Walk-off home run (two-run, 13th inning)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

July 25, 2013; Nationals (9) vs. Pirates (7)

Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

June 5, 2012; Nationals (7) vs. Mets (6)

  • Box score
  • Walk-off hit (one-run single, 12th inning)

Of Harper’s 12 career walk-offs, it would be hard to argue against his walk-off grand slam opposite the Chicago Cubs in August 2019 as being the most memorable, clutch, and impacting for a team. The Phillies produced six runs in the ninth of that summer game, four of which came off of Harpers’ bat.

Surely, there are more career walk-offs in Harper’s career to come, considering he has the 2020 season and at least 11 more to play in red pinstripes. Time will tell if any of those will rival, or exceed in impact on the game as did his walk-off grand slam.

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