8/26 Game Recap: Phillies beat Pirates 7-4 in Harpers return

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - “Batting third for the Phillies, Designated Hitter number three Bryce Harper!”. Sounds good dosen’t it? It’s been exactly 72 days since those words echoed throughout Citizens Bank Park. 72 Days since Bryce Harper threw on the Red pinstripes and trotted out onto the field in South Philadelphia. Harper has been on the shelf for the Phillies win a broken thumb since June 25th when he was hit by Padres pitcher Blake Snell. Harp’s return will certainly serve as a huge boost for the Phils as they look to maintain their winning ways, and they find themselves rolling into the weekend as they prepare for two more games with the Buckos. But for now, let’s take a look at what happened in MV3’s return to Philly…

The night started off just how every Phillies fan dreamed it would have, as Kyle Schwarber would get on with an infield single followed by a Rhys Hoskins double and an improbable infield hit from Alec Bohm. The stage was set, bases loaded, and after a long 3-month wait it was time. A crowd of 30,000+ rose to their feet to welcome the MVP home. After a long hard-fought at-bat, Harper would deliver. Just not in the way we all may have wanted him to, but a belted single out to right field to bring two home would do just fine for now. Nick Castellanos and JT Realmuto would follow Harper up with RBI singles of their own, stretching the Phillies lead all the way to 4-0 at the end of the first frame. The second inning was more of the same as Rhys Hoskins and JT Realmuto yet again would come through driving home two more runs for the Phils. Backed by some strong offensive production Bailey Falter would get the Phils through 6 allowing just 3 runs, on 5 hits while he was at it. But as we got into the later innings, Falter would be lifted and Rob Thomson would look to Connor Brogdon to get the Phillies through the 7th. He was unfortunately not able to do so. As he would allow a Ben Gamel solo shot to right, to tighten the seams a little more if you will. Jose Alverado would soon come in relief of the struggling righty to finish the 7th, and he would do so easily as the first batter he’d face would ground into a double play. But even after just a few pitches, Thomson would elect to bring in yet another arm from the pen. This time it would be David Robertson who would go 1-2-3 on just 10 pitches. I personally thought that Robertson could have come back in, to complete the game. But my guess is that Rob Thomson’s thought process was to attempt to conserve Robertson as much as possible for the rest of the weekend. After a Bryson Stott single to score Brandon Zimmer in the 8th, Brad Hand would come on to attempt to close the game out. The Lefty would put together a strong inning setting the Bucs down in order 1-2-3 and sending a lot of Phillies fans into the weekend happy.

This was a great all-around night at the ballpark, for the team and the fans. It was awesome to see a semi-full Citizens Bank Park and it was especially awesome to see Bryce Harper back out doing his thing for the Fightin Phils. Harper’s much-anticipated return could not have come at a better time as the Phillies are set dead in the middle of a wildcard race. With the final stretch of the season rapidly approaching, it will certainly be a great luxury for the Phillies to have their MVP back in the lineup. Now we look ahead to tomorrow night when the Phillies will take on the Pirates yet again, this time at 6:05 pm as they look to stretch their winning streak to 6. But for now good morning, good afternoon, and good night, and of course Go Phils!