Bryce Harper made his intentions clear after delivering one of the Philadelphia Phillies’ biggest swings of the postseason. The superstar admitted he was trying to hit a home run when he stepped to the plate in a crucial moment against the Atlanta Braves.
Harper’s eighth-inning blast tied Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series at 3-3 on Wednesday. His home run came just moments after Kyle Schwarber also went deep, helping Philadelphia erase a two-run deficit and keep its postseason hopes alive.
Speaking after the victory, Harper offered a straightforward explanation of his approach. “I wasn’t not trying to hit a homer, I can tell you that,” he said, according to Will Hopkins of 680 The Fan.
The admission carried extra significance because Harper had made a costly defensive mistake in the seventh inning. His misplay on a fly ball in right field helped Atlanta take a 3-1 lead, putting the Phillies in a difficult position.
Harper did not let that moment define his night. Instead, he responded with a home run that traveled 418 feet into right-center field, giving Philadelphia a much-needed spark.
Harper also offered a broader lesson about responding to mistakes. He explained that players will inevitably make errors, but what matters is how they handle the next opportunity.
The Phillies completed the comeback in the 10th inning when Alec Bohm hit a solo home run to secure a 4-3 victory. Rookie Andrew Painter then delivered three scoreless innings of relief to help Philadelphia close out the win.
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The result evened the series at one game apiece and forced a decisive Game 3. Harper’s home run did not finish the job, but it helped create the opportunity for Philadelphia to keep its season going.
With the series now on the line, the Phillies will need another complete performance to advance. Harper’s confidence at the plate has already played a major role in keeping that possibility alive.
