The benches cleared during Wednesday’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants after Kyle Harrison nearly hit Bryce Harper on consecutive pitches, which the superstar slugger didn’t like.
Harper ultimately grounded out to shortstop, with runners on second and third, to end the top of the fourth inning.
In April 2021, Harper took a 97 mph pellet to the face from St. Louis Cardinals reliever Génesis Cabrera, forcing him to leave the game and undergo a CT scan.
In June 2022, Blake Snell hit him with a 97 mph fastball, fracturing his thumb and costing him two months on the injured list. He was able to return at the end of the season and help the Phillies reach the World Series.
Harper also has a little history with the Giants. Exactly seven years agoduring his time with the Washington Nationals, Harper charged the mound after being hit by San Francisco reliever Hunter Strickland, the two exchanging punches in a bench-clearing brawl between the teams.
This year, the 31-year-old slugger is hitting .267 with 13 home runs, 41 RBIs, 32 runs scored and a .901 OPS, putting himself in the MVP conversation. He’s been on a bit of a slump lately, going hitless in three games leading up to Wednesday’s game against the Giants.
The Phillies have also been going through a rough patch, currently mired in their first three-game losing streak of the season. It’s generally been an incredible start to the year, with Philly still owning baseball’s best mark at 38-18.
This helped the team open a five-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. The Braves have won the division six straight times, although the Phillies eliminated them in the last two playoff series.
News Source : syndication.bleacherreport.com
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