Bryce Harper's return to Washington D.C. couldn't have gone better.
The Phillies beat the Nationals 8-2 on a rainy night at Nationals Park. It was Harper's 473rd game in that ballpark, but his first as a visitor, and he certainly didn't disappoint.
Here are observations.
Harper Silenced Nats Fans
There was a lot of buildup to Harper's first at bat and what type of reaction he would receive. To no surprise, Nationals fans booed Harper every time he stepped up to the plate, made a catch in right field and when the Nationals played a tribute video for him during player introductions.
Max Scherzer struck out Harper his first two plate appearances, but Harper followed them with a first inning double, sixth inning RBI single and dramatic eighth inning two-run home run to the second deck off former Phil Jeremy Hellickson. Harper, a left-handed batter, dramatically flipped his bat in the direction of the Nationals dugout after the blast.
Now THAT is a bat flip from Bryce Harper --(via @MLBNetwork) pic.twitter.com/FCGJEAZWH1
— ESPN (@espn) April 3, 2019Through four games this season, Harper is hitting .429 with three home runs. It's early, but he's proving to be everything as advertised and then some.
Traveling Phillies Fans
A large group of WIP listeners, through Phans of Philly, made the trip to D.C. for Harper's big game. They invaded the right field seats to cheer Harper as Nationals fans booed. Whether it was chants of "We Got Harper," "MVP" or getting Harper to do his signature bow after his first RBI, Phillies fans represented Philadelphia well and turned Nationals Park into Citizens Bank Park South.
Eflin Dominant
Zach Eflin stood toe-to-toe with Scherzer like a seasoned pro.
Both tossed five innings, eventually pulled for pinch hitters in what was a 2-0 Phillies lead. While Scherzer allowed two runs, one earned, on seven hits with nine strikeouts, Eflin was better. He allowed no runs, only three hits and struck out nine. Since the Phillies lineup is so potent in the one through eight spots, I didn't agree with Gabe Kapler's decision to pull a dominant Eflin in a 2-0 game in the top of the sixth inning, especially since pinch hitter Nick Williams struck out anyway, but the Phils ended up getting four runs in that frame, and the bullpen only allowed two runs. It worked out. Eflin got his season off to a good start.
Franco Continues To Shine In The 8-Spot
Is Maikel Franco the best eight-hole hitter in baseball this season? He is certainly making a tremendous case. Franco reached based five times Tuesday night, recording two hits and walking three times, all intentionally. He's hitting .545 through four games.
Top of the Phillies Lineup Excellent
The Phils recorded 14 hits on the night, and eight of them came from the top three spots, with Andrew McCutchen recording two and Harper and Jean Segura three a piece. Harper and Segura also accounted for six of the Phils eight runs driven in.
History Was Made
The Phils are 4-0 for the first time since 1915, when they went 8-0, on their way to a National League Pennant.
