With the drama of Bryce Harper’s first game back in Washington behind them, the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals will conclude their two-game series Wednesday afternoon at Nationals Park.
Harper had three hits — including a 458-foot home run — in his return, as the Phillies improved to 4-0 with an 8-2 win over the Nationals on Tuesday night.
After striking out twice, Harper doubled, singled in a run and blasted his third home run of the season, a two-run shot into the upper deck in right center.
“It was pretty cool. My teammates and staff of the Phillies, I respect them so much,” Harper said afterwards. “It was an emotional day. You just try to go about it the right way. I just try to go out there and play my game.”
Harper was booed loudly during his plate appearances, but by late in the game, many Nationals fans had gone home, and the many Phillies fans in attendance could be heard.
“He is pretty mentally tough. I thought he responded in a pretty impressive way,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said of Harper. “He is in a constant state of gratitude for our fans who were in the ballpark tonight. He was pretty powerful the way he came out tonight. It was pretty entertaining, it really was.”
Maikel Franco homered and reached base five times for the Phillies, and Jean Segura (three hits) drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double.
The Phillies have hit 10 home runs and scored 31 runs in their first four games, and Harper is 6 for 14 with five RBIs.
Washington (1-3) endured a bad night on the scoreboard and in the trainer’s room.
Shortstop Trea Turner suffered a non-displaced broken right index finger when he was hit attempting to bunt in the first inning. Turner was off to a 5-for-13 start with two home runs. Manager Dave Martinez said there is no timetable for his return.
“It’s a big loss,” Martinez said. “He’s our starting shortstop, but we’ve got to keep going. [Wilmer] Difo’s going to get an opportunity to play and he’s here for a reason.”
In addition, first baseman Matt Adams (back) is day-to-day after going over the railing attempting to make a catch in the first inning.
Max Scherzer (0-2) was solid for five innings on Tuesday, but the Phillies padded their lead against Washington’s struggling bullpen.
“Bottom line is we lost one of our good players, and we lost. We’ve got to come back [Wednesday]. But we’ve got to get better. Just got to play better,” Martinez said.
“When you’re giving good teams 28, 29 outs, 30 outs, they’re going to capitalize. So, we’ve got to get better at that. Our bullpen’s got to start getting key outs. And it’ll happen, but we can’t wait. We’ve got to come back tomorrow and play the way we’re capable of playing.”
Right-hander Aaron Nola (1-0, 1.50 ERA) makes his second start of the season. On Opening Day he allowed a run on two hits in six innings against Atlanta while fanning eight and walking five.
Nola is 4-5 with a 3.59 ERA in 15 career starts against the Nationals.
Anibal Sanchez makes his first start of the season for Washington. The right-hander signed a two-year deal with the Nationals in the offseason after going 7-6 with a 2.83 ERA last season with Atlanta.
He’s 5-9 with a 4.50 ERA in 20 career starts versus the Phillies.
