Bryce Harper hit a home run on Thursday night to lead the Phillies to a 7-5 win over the Nationals. The 33-year-old MLB star was back at his old stomping grounds and was welcomed with hostile chants.
What happened?
The home team jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but the Phillies came storming back to tie the game. Harper stepped to the plate in the top of the 9th inning and stunned the crowd with a home run.
The incident
As Harper rounded first base, he seemed to flip off the Nationals faithful, but he claims it was his ring finger, not his middle finger. "Ring finger, though, just want to make sure that's out there," Harper told media.
Reaction
Harper was perplexed by the treatment he received from the fans throughout the series, after all he did in D.C. for seven years. He said it's all part of the game and that there are people who enjoy him.
The Phillies won the game 7-5, with Harper getting the last laugh. He has not won a World Series, but the Nationals did without him in 2019, the season after he left for Philadelphia, where he signed a $330 million contract.
Moving forward
Harper and the Phillies will look to build on their win as they continue their season. The incident with the fans will likely be remembered, but Harper is focused on playing baseball.
Harper's home run was a significant moment in the game, and it helped the Phillies come out on top. The win was a big one for the team, and they will look to carry the momentum forward.
The Nationals fans were hostile towards Harper throughout the series, but he took it in stride. He has been in tough situations before and knows how to handle himself.
The game was played on Thursday night, and the Phillies came out on top. Harper's home run was the difference-maker, and he was happy to have contributed to the win.