The Phillies-Braves rivalry has been churning for a few years now. Not that it didn't exist before, it's just now the Philadelphia Phillies can go toe-to-toe against the pesky Atlanta Braves. With the Phillies going up against the Braves for three games down in Atlanta, it gives perspective on where these two teams currently are in the standings.
The Phillies, heading into Wednesday night’s showdown, stood 6.0 games up against Atlanta with four additional rounds in South Philly at the end of August. Their more recent contests have been filled with fireworks and exciting plays. One of the most famous recent moments came back up Wednesday night.
Braves’ Orlando Arcia makes pathetic attempt to show up Bryce Harper with home run stare down
In the bottom of the fourth inning the game was still scoreless with the Phillies offense still struggling to push across a run. That ended when Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia pulled a 2-1, 90 mph sinker from Aaron Nola just over the wall in left field at 387 feet. That two-run home run put the Braves up 2-0. What Arcia decided to do after the home run is what got fans' attention.
Just after Arcia was able to put the Braves up and started rounding the bases, he looked back at Bryce Harper on the infield grass as if to invoke a reaction from Harper. Arcia even looked back a few more times, to get it out of his system.
Orlando Arcia thinks he's slick with his stare down at Bryce Harper after homering 😳 👀
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 22, 2024
If only he could do it in the postseason... pic.twitter.com/9wXmD7I4wz
What Arcia was attempting to do was get back at Harper after Arcia uttered the "atta boy Harper" comment after Game 2 of the 2023 NLDS when Harper was out on a fly ball double play to end the game.
In Game 3, Harper went off for two home runs and followed with stare downs of Arcia (subscription required), per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
What's even humorous about this is how Arcia and the Braves went back on that comment and did not intend to have it seen to the public and be used as “bulletin board material.” What Harper did in that moment was create postseason aura with the showman in him coming out when fans were bloodthirsty after such an irritating quote (subscription required), per Isabella DiAmore of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
What Arcia did on Wednesday was act like a guy who is hitting .226 on a postseason hopeful team who is just trying to be something he isn't, a star.