Bryce Harper pranks Phillie Phanatic, then belts two home runs
The Washington Nationals may be in the middle of a collapse, but that’s not going to stop Bryce Harper from having a good time. Harper proved that the team’s struggles aren’t impacting him on the field or off the field.
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Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Harper decided to play a prank on the Phillie Phanatic. Before games, the Phanatic can often be seen riding an ATV around the field. On Tuesday, the Phanatic made the mistake of parking his ride a little too close to the Nationals’ dugout.
That’s when Harper struck. As he was running back to the dugout, Harper stole the keys to the Phanatic’s ATV. The keys eventually made their way to reliever Matt Thornton, who handed them off to a Phillies security guard.
The Phanatic eventually figured out what was happening, and got his keys back. Before leaving the field, however, the Phanatic made sure to confront Harper about the incident.
If Harper was apologetic, he didn’t show it on the field. Harper belted two home runs against the Phillies, accounting for all four RBI during the Nationals’ 4-0 victory. He finished 3 for 3, with two runs scored and 4 RBI. He walked in his only other plate appearance, reaching base four times.
Some might criticize Harper for trying to lighten the mood as his team falls out of playoff contention, but that doesn’t seem fair. On a Nationals team full of disappointments, Harper has been the lone bright spot all season. He proved as much once the game started, destroying Phillies pitching.
If there’s any player who deserves a good laugh right now, it’s probably Harper. Despite putting up one of the best offensive seasons since Barry Bonds, his team has fallen out of contention.
He’s probably reached the point where he has to laugh in order to keep from crying.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
