WASHINGTON — Showered by raindrops and jeers for a lot of the sport, Bryce Harper put a bat-flipping, celebratory end on his memorable return to Washington.
Harper crushed an extended dwelling run in his closing at-bat, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Nationals 8-2 Tuesday night time for the franchise’s greatest begin in over a century.
Maikel Franco additionally homered for the Phillies, baseball’s solely undefeated staff at 4-0. They had solely executed that in 1915 and 1897.
Harper left Washington after taking part in 927 video games over seven years, collaborating in six All-Star Games and profitable the 2015 NL MVP Award. He listened to what the Nationals needed to supply, then signed a $330 million, 13-year contract with the rival Phillies in February.
Harper hasn’t wasted any time offering returns for the funding. He has three homers and 5 RBIs in 4 video games, together with a .429 batting common. He drove in three Tuesday.
Booed throughout each at-bat, Harper thumped a “take that,” 458-foot shot within the eighth inning off Jeremy Hellickson. As the ball soared towards the second deck in proper subject, Harper flipped his bat and circled the bases with delight earlier than celebrating along with his new teammates within the visiting dugout.
“It’s the emotion of the game. That’s it. That’s about it,” he stated of the bat flip.
But man, that dwelling run positive felt good.
“I was pretty fired up. I was excited,” he stated. “I was trying to get back to my teammates as quick as possible and do all my handshakes.”
When Philadelphia’s beginning lineup was introduced in the course of the late levels of a 41-minute rain delay, it grew to become obvious that Harper wouldn’t be welcomed again warmly. Many within the slow-arriving crowd of 35,920 booed loudly when his title was introduced because the No. Three hitter, and the derisive shouting continued throughout a video montage of his greatest moments with the Nationals.
“I heard the boos,” Harper acknowledged. “For me, that’s part of sports, part of the game.”
The refrain resumed when Harper walked to the plate within the first inning to face three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer. The followers lastly cheered when Harper took a strike on the surface nook, they usually bought even louder when Harper whiffed on a 2-2 changeup .
“Hearing the boos in the first at-bat just reminded me that I have 45,000 people back in Philadelphia screaming for me,” Harper stated.
When he took his place in proper subject, Harper stood in entrance of seven followers carrying white shirts that spelled out T-R-A-I-T-O-R.
After hanging out twice, Harper doubled to proper within the fifth and singled in a run within the sixth to make it 6-Zero earlier than connecting within the eighth.
When the sport ended, tons of of Phillies followers remained, chanting “MVP! MVP!” as Philadelphia shook fingers. The shouting followers included many who had bused in from Philly earlier within the day and sat behind Harper in proper subject.
Jean Segura had three hits and three RBIs for the Phillies, who had been coming off a season-opening sweep of Atlanta.
Zach Eflin (1-0) struck out 9 and allowed three hits over 5 scoreless innings. He outdid Scherzer (0-2), who allowed one earned run in 5 innings and struck out 9.
Scherzer has began half the Nationals’ 4 video games this season. He has a 2.13 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 12 2/Three innings, however Washington has but to attain a run for him.
Very little went proper for the Nationals, who fell to 1-3.
Shortstop Trea Turner left within the first inning after being struck by a pitch on his proper index finger whereas attempting to bunt. Turner squared on the plate and couldn’t again away from a fastball that struck his hand, which was wrapped across the bat.
The harm was recognized as a nondisplaced fracture. The timetable for his return is undetermined.
In addition, first baseman Matt Adams left within the fourth inning with again spasms, doubtless the results of a scary fall early within the sport whereas chasing a foul ball. Drifting behind first base towards the stands, Adams flipped over a fence as he reached into…