ST. LOUIS -- Bryce Harper wore a Phillies jersey and cap for the very first time on March 2, 2019, during an introductory news conference in Clearwater, Fla. It is there where he laid out his hopes and dreams for the next 13 years.

“You’re always remembered for winning and what better place to do it than Philly?” he said. “I don’t know if that’s going to happen this year or next year or in the years in front of us -- but I hope it does.”

Harper helped the Phillies take another step Saturday when he crushed a first-pitch curveball off Miles Mikolas to right field for a home run in the second inning of a 2-0 victory over the Cardinals in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series at Busch Stadium. The win clinched a sweep in the best-of-three series, sending the Phils to the NL Division Series, where they will play the Braves.

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It was the Phillies’ first postseason series victory since the 2010 NLDS against the Reds.

It was the first postseason series victory of Harper’s career.

“Whenever you can go up 1-0 on the road and take the air out of a city, that’s what you’ve got to do,” Harper said.

Harper’s homer, his sixth career postseason blast, along with brilliant pitching from Aaron Nola and the bullpen, will give Philadelphia its first postseason game at Citizens Bank Park since Game 5 of the 2011 NLDS.

Games 1 and 2 are Tuesday and Wednesday in Atlanta.

Game 3 is Friday in Philadelphia.

“We’re just excited for that opportunity to get to that next round,” Harper said. “We’re going to do everything we can to get that next one, as well.”

Harper had been telling anybody within earshot the past couple days in St. Louis that they were not going to lose this series. He said after Game 1 that “you have to speak it into existence, right?”

“I was kind of in and out of the clubhouse doing my thing, but I came in for a few minutes, and I heard him say it,” Nola said.

Rob Thomson heard it, too.

“It's just a message out there,” the interim manager said. “We're not going to lose. We're going to do whatever we can to win this game. And I think that's a good message. I really do. And it showed with the unselfishness during the series, with our position players and our pitchers. Every pitcher today came in [and] they said, whether they pitched yesterday or not, 'I'm good to go, and I'm good to go tomorrow, if we have to play tomorrow.'”

Harper said he is good to go, too. It is no secret that he hasn’t been swinging the bat well since he returned from a broken left thumb on Aug. 26, batting .227 with three homers, 17 RBIs and a .676 OPS in his final 35 regular-season games.

“I feel like I'm still playing in the regular season right now,” Harper said. “I'm not saying the moments aren't bigger. But I haven't played. I feel like we're just on another road trip going to St. Louis. … Keep working the counts. Hopefully the more I go, the more comfortable I get.

"Everybody knows I'm not being myself right now. But each day, I feel good. I feel better each day. I was able to keep it going. I just want to win. I don't care what it takes. Right now, when we're successful, I'm doing well also. Hopefully, that can happen as we go on.”

Harper said he likes the Phillies’ chances in the NLDS because of Zack Wheeler, Nola and Ranger Suárez atop the rotation. It could be Suárez in Game 1 and Wheeler in Game 2.

Nola could be the Game 3 starter.

“We’re excited to get back to Philadelphia,” Harper said. “We’re excited to see the towels in the stands. I can’t wait to get back. I’ve got chills right now. I don’t know if it’s because I’m cold from the beer, but I’m fired up. I can’t wait to get back.”