Harper ends HR drought, calls 'pen to celebrate

PHILADELPHIA -- Bryce Harper has hit so many home runs in his life that he cannot possibly remember them all.

But it had been so long since he hit his last home run that he forgot to acknowledge the Phillies’ bullpen as he rounded first base in the fourth inning on Saturday night during a 9-4 win over the Padres in Game 2 of a doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. Harper’s game-tying solo shot into the bullpen in right-center field was his first homer since May 25, snapping a career-high 166 consecutive plate appearances without one.

“Everybody keeps talking about it,” Harper said. “It is what it is. For me personally, keep hitting the baseball, keep hitting it hard. I don’t go out there to hit homers. I don’t really try to hit homers. When you try to hit homers, it’s just not good. I put a really good swing on the ball tonight, and it was able to get out there. Keep swinging and keep doing my thing.”

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But it was a reason to have some fun and celebrate. Harper’s teammates left the dugout after he homered, leaving him to high-five his manager, coaches, injured Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins and interpreter Diego Ettedgui. Teammates emerged moments later. Kyle Schwarber picked up Harper and gave him a big bear hug.

Meanwhile, the relievers in the bullpen kept waving at Harper in the dugout.

Hey, you still haven’t acknowledged us!

“There’s times when I do it,” Harper said, smiling. “There’s times when I’ll say to the bullpen, ‘Hi,’ or whatever. There’s times when I’ll call them.”

So, Harper picked up the bullpen phone and called. Bullpen coach Dave Lundquist answered and relayed the message. The relievers laughed. Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel, who caught the homer barehanded, tossed the ball to the side.

Thankfully, Kimbrel caught it clean. The Phillies need his right hand healthy for the stretch run.

“That was stupid,” Harper said, smiling. “I already talked to him. It was terrible. You can’t do that. I mean, nice catch, but come on, man.”

Schwarber followed one inning later with a three-run homer to give the Phillies the lead as they swept the doubleheader.

Philadelphia won Game 1, 6-4.

“Those are two huge wins right there against a really good team,” Harper said. “Being able to take two, starting the break off on a good foot.”

Maybe the homer sets Harper’s second half off on the right foot, too. He could make his debut at first base later this homestand.

“Everybody was rooting for him because they knew he wanted to hit one because it had been a while,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “And that’s what he does. Everybody was rooting for him, and when he hit it there was excitement in the dugout.”

“Hopefully this is the start of something,” Taijuan Walker said.