ATL BRAVES - PHI PHILLIES

USA - MLB Playoffs

13/10/2023 - 02:00 CET

Arcia repeatedly laughed and mocked Harper in the Braves’ clubhouse for his baserunning decision that ended Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Monday night at Truist Park. Arcia’s jeering was reported by FOX Sports and The Washington Post. An audio recording from the clubhouse confirmed Arcia’s comments. So, Harper’s teammates asked him a simple question before a 10-2 victory over Atlanta in Game 3 on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

“They looked at me and they were like, ‘What are you going to do?’” Harper said.
"Something memorable.
Something historic.
Something only Hall of Famers seem to do."

Harper crushed a three-run home run to right field in the third inning and a solo home run to center field in the fifth, helping the Phillies take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Philadelphia can clinch a second consecutive trip to the NL Championship Series with a Game 4 victory on Thursday night. In the current 2-2-1 Division Series format, teams ahead 2-1 and playing Game 4 at home have advanced 23 of 29 times (79 percent). Teammates call Harper “the Showman” because he comes up big in the game’s biggest moments. He’s one of the best in the world for a reason, in fact he came up big again Wednesday.
Harper’s homers were only his first act on Wednesday. His trots around the bases were his second.
He crushed a 2-1 slider from Bryce Elder in the third inning with an exit velocity of 109.5 mph, sending the pitch into the second deck in right field. Harper stood and admired his handiwork from the batter’s box before he ran the bases. He offered a quick glance toward second base before he slapped hands with Phillies first-base coach Paco Figueroa. Harper pointed toward the Phils’ bullpen as he approached second.
Harper then turned his head and gave a long look to Arcia, who stood near second.
Harper stared down Arcia again after smoking a 1-1 sweeper from Brad Hand in the fifth at an exit velocity of 109.5 mph, sending the pitch into the bushes in center field.
Harper, whose nine postseason homers rank third in franchise history behind Jayson Werth (11) and Chase Utley (10), hit two of the Phillies’ postseason franchise-record six home runs in Game 3. Nick Castellanos also hit two. Harper has a 1.697 OPS in seven career postseason games against the Braves. It is the second-best mark by any player against any single team in postseason history (minimum 25 plate appearances). Only Barry Bonds’ performance against the Angels in the 2002 World Series was better -- he had a 1.994 OPS against Anaheim.
Harper's goal since joining the Phillies in 2019 remains: win a World Series. Let’s hope they take that next step tonight, showing some more spectacular baseball.