Bryce Harper hits 2 of Phils’ 6 HRs, stares down Orlando Arcia

Phillies star Bryce Harper wouldn’t exactly admit he was fueled by comments Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia made about him after Game 2 of the teams’ National League Division Series, but he certainly heard about them.

Harper responded with two home runs in a Game 3 blowout by Philadelphia on Wednesday, staring down Arcia both times he rounded the bases.

“It’s a super competitive game that we play, from both sides of the ball,” Harper said after the Phillies’ 10-2 victory put them up 2-1 in the best-of-five series. “And I enjoy commentary and things. ... Anytime anybody says something, right? I mean that’s what it’s all about.”

Arcia’s comments came while celebrating in the Braves’ clubhouse after Harper was doubled off first base to end Monday night’s game, in which Atlanta rallied from a four-run deficit after being no-hit into the sixth inning. Arcia could be heard yelling, “ha-ha, attaboy, Harper!” several times.

The barb got back to the Phillies veteran.

“Yeah, just [from] my teammates,” Harper said. “That’s about it. They just kind of told me, and they looked at me, and they were like, ‘What are you going to do?’”

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Harper said he hadn’t seen a replay of his check swing. He said he didn’t need to.

“It’s just bad, just all around,” Harper said. “You’re grinding in that at-bat, facing a guy I’ve never faced before. I got to a 3-2 count, I took a slider down and in, obviously didn’t go. Wasn’t even thinking about [strike three] in that situation. I was taking my stuff off and I heard the crowd’s reaction, and I was just like, ‘There’s no way.’”

Asked what Hernández told him when he went out to third base, Harper said, “He just told me that if I saw the replay, that I would know that I was wrong. I mean, yeah, so.”

Bryce Harper lost it on Angel Hernandez after this check swing call pic.twitter.com/JLPpoNLWJy

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 28, 2023