3 for Harper

Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy said it best, “What a night to be Bryce Harper!”

The future Hall of Famer enjoyed a multi-milestone night, leading the offense in a 9-4 win over the Reds.  Despite chilly, misty conditions at Citizens Bank Park, the Phils 1st baseman made like it was a sizzling summer afternoon, with his first three-home run game in red pinstripes:

  • The first gave the Phillies a quick 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning.
  • The second, a 4th inning bullet to the right field seats, regained the lead after Cincinnati tied it in the 3rd.  It also gave him 1000 runs scored for his career.
  • The third was truly grand, a 7th inning slam that broke the game wide open and enabled skipper Rob Thomson to rest his main bullpen arms.
Harper's six RBI were a career best.  All three of his shots came off lefthanders (the first two were against Graham Ashcraft, the third vs. Brent Suter).  And they came after Harper started the season 0-for-11 (and the Phils went 1-and-3)..

I wasn't in South Philly last night, so I can't offer a photo of Harper in his red ski mask. These images from Sunny Clearwater on March 12th will just have to do.
 

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