PHILADELPHIA — In the 10th inning on Monday night, Bryce Harper stepped into the on-deck circle with two outs, as the potential tying run. Backup catcher Garrett Stubbs found Whit Merrifield in the dugout and said, “Man, you’re going to want to watch this.”
Time often stops at Citizens Bank Park when Harper bats. It is an unfair expectation in a sport where the best players succeed only 30 percent of the time. But Harper is special. He consistently meets the highest expectations.
However, he struck out on five pitches to end Monday’s game.
“Obviously, it didn’t work out,” Stubbs said. “It doesn’t always work out. But it damn near feels like it always works out.”
That’s Harper. After starting the season hitless in 11 at-bats, he hit three homers against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. In a 9-4 win, Harper sealed the night with a grand slam in the seventh inning, wearing a red ski mask to combat the bitter cold. It was the Phillies’ first win of the season.
HARPER HAT-TRICK CAPPED OFF WITH A GRAND SLAM#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/jjUSIWvTEZ
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 3, 2024
They were able to cruise to victory because Ricardo Pinto, making his first appearance in the majors in five years, tossed four scoreless innings for the save.