Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann, right, reacts to umpire Rob Drake after relief pitcher Shane Carle was ejected for hitting the Philadelphia Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins with a pitch during the seventh inning of Sunday night’s game in Philadelphia.PHILADELPHIA – Bryce Harper turned Philly into a baseball city again with his star power, his slugging and a sweep. With a pair of mammoth homers making him at home in his new digs, Harper is now ready for a blast from the past.
The six-time All-Star homered for the second straight game to cap a fantastic debut weekend, and the Philadelphia Phillies completed a three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves with a 5-1 victory Sunday night.
Harper connected on a solo shot to right field off Shane Carle in the seventh inning that had the crowd resuming its “MVP!” chants from a day earlier and the Phillie Phanatic dancing atop the dugout. Carle then drilled cleanup hitter Rhys Hoskins on the left shoulder and was ejected from the game, and Phillies fans taunted him with a mock tomahawk chop.
“If it hits the front row, I’m fine,” Harper said. “I don’t care how far it goes. It’s not how far, it’s how many.”
The sweep was complete – and now it’s time for an early reunion.