For about 10 minutes, it looked like the 300th home run of Bryce Harper’s career would also be another dramatic, game-winning bomb for a Phillies team that hit a franchise record 59 home runs in August.
While Craig Kimbrel’s blown save in the top of the ninth inning prevented it, it was still another magical moment at Citizens Bank Park, a stadium that has hosted many guests over the last calendar year.
Harper entered the game in the bottom of the eighth with the Phillies trailing by a run. Trea Turner, who had previously hit a three-run shot in his two innings, had just struck out. Harper hit his 10th home run of the month with a hit to right-center.
Bryce Harper hit his 300th career home run in dramatic fashion on Wednesday afternoon.
He played like an MVP in August, hitting .361 with 10 homers, nine doubles, a triple, 24 RBI and 23 runs in 26 games.
“Hopefully another 300,” he said after the game. “When you grow up you don’t really think about the one, the two or the three, but rather the bigger numbers. I like where I am on a personal level and where this team is as well. There are bigger numbers.” My head, but 300 is pretty good.
“There’s nothing like it at home in front of these fans,” he said. “I feel very lucky and blessed to be able to wear this uniform every day with Phillies on my chest. I’m so grateful that after the 2018 season me and John (Middleton) were able to sit down and get something done. Very lucky.” Have a long-term contract and play this game for a longer period of time.
“Hopefully I can make it longer than my contract now stipulates. I just love being a Phillie, plain and simple. It’s something I dreamed of, this fan base, this city, I love it, pure and simple. I feel like I’m part of this family, there’s nothing like it. I could go on, everyone thinks I’m very soft, but it’s real. It’s so real. It comes from the bottom of my heart.”