Watch: Harper's Clutch Home Run Gives Phillies a Late-Inning Lead
In this story:
The Philadelphia Phillies have regained the lead in San Diego. After giving up two runs in a rain-soaked top of the seventh, the Phillies got back on top in the bottom of the eighth.
J.T. Realmuto got things going with a single off Padres right-handed reliever Robert Suarez. Then Harper stepped to the plate. On the seventh pitch of his at-bat, he crushed a 99-mph sinker to left center field, giving the Phillies a 4-3 lead. He became the first left-handed batter to take Suarez deep this season.
The home run was Harper's fifth of the playoffs, tying him with teammate Rhys Hoskins for the postseason lead. He and Hoskins are also tied atop the leaderboards with 11 postseason RBI. No one was more excited after Harper's blast than Hoskins himself.
Philadelphia is now just three outs away from heading to their first World Series since 2009. If the Phillies can hold on, Harper looks like the frontrunner to be named NLCS MVP.
More From SI's Inside The Phillies:
- Phillies Star Bryce Harper Doesn't Hold Back on Thoughts About Joe Girardi
- How Mike Trout Will Join the Phillies
- Could Bryce Harper's Favorite MLB Player Join the Philadelphia Phillies Next Season?
- Why You Should Root for the Philadelphia Phillies to Lose a Few Games
- Phillies Release 2023 Regular Season Schedule
- Have the Philadelphia Phillies Found Their Centerfielder of the Future?
- Could The Phillies Soon Be Playing in Wawa Park?
- How did Philadelphia end up with Citizens Bank Park?
- How the Phillie Phanatic Came to be America's Favorite Sports Mascot
- Picking the Phillies' All-Time Single Season Lineup
Make sure to follow Inside the Phillies on Substack and Twitter!
