Harper’s post-game reaction to being nearly hit twice before the benches cleared originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
SAN FRANCISCO – The benches and bullpens disappeared in the top of the fourth inning at Oracle Park during Wednesday’s finale after Giants left-hander Kyle Harrison came at Bryce Harper on consecutive pitches and nearly hit him both times.
Harper barked at Harrison after the first heater at 90 miles per hour. He seemed to shout, “What are you doing, man?”
On the next pitch, Harrison threw even higher and further in at 90 mph and hit the knob of Harper’s bat, sweeping him backward and knocking off his helmet.
Harper and Alec Bohm argued with Giants catcher Curt Casali as the dugouts, bullpens and clubhouses emptied. Harper stayed out of the mix as some pushing and shoving took place around the infield. Giants hitting coach and former Phillie Pat Burrell seemed to be in the thick of it.
Both banks were warned. There were no ejections and Harper himself looked like he had calmed down during the delay. After the game, Casali told reporters he appreciated Harper cooling down and reacting the way he did as players crowded the infield.
When play resumed, the Giants challenged the on-field rule (hit by pitch) and it was overturned after it was clearly shown to have hit Harper’s bat.
“I think our guys were a little bit upset that he came around to Harp a few times,” manager Rob Thomson said. “And it looked worse than it was because the helmet slipped off and then broke. It looked like it was hit from our point of view, so I think everyone got a little bit bent out of shape. But everyone calmed down a little bit.”
You can understand Harper’s reaction when he was punched in the face by Genesis Cabrera in 2021 and then broke his thumb the next year in San Diego when he was hit by Blake Snell.
The at bat ended in a groundout, with the Phillies leading by two runs at that point.
The Phillies didn’t think Harrison had any intentions behind the pitches.
“That wasn’t the intention,” Harper said. “I just don’t want to get punched in the face. When you get hit in the face, man, it’s not fun. That’s it.’
There was no bickering between the sides after this at bat. The Phillies went on to win the game 6-1.
“Emotions run high when you get a fastball hit in the head,” Nick Castellanos said. “It’s scary. He had one, he had a few words, another went up and down, and everything just happened. It’s not a logical moment to think. It comes quickly, it’s in your head, it’s scary.”
