Bryce Harper gets roasted by fans after Phillies lose game vs. Nationals

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper struggled in Thursday's game against the Washington Nationals.

After winning the first two games of their three-game series, the Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on Alec Bohm’s RBI single. In the sixth, Nathaniel Lowe tied the score with an RBI single. Shortly after, Keibert Ruiz stepped up to the plate and hit the ball toward first base, where Bryce Harper misplayed it, allowing the ball to roll deep into the corner.

Harper’s fielding error allowed a run to be scored, with Ruiz reaching third base, giving the Nationals a 2-1 lead. Phillies fans were furious and shared their opinions on X:

“Harper needs time off,” a fan wrote.

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“Ok Bryce needs to be better. Defensively and offensively. Marchan is a nothing burger right now,” another fan said.

“Harper needs to step up his game. And can we get a manager with a clue?” another fan wrote.

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Ruiz later scored on Luis García Jr.’s RBI single. García then stole home, and the top of the sixth inning ended with the Nationals holding a 4-1 lead. At the bottom of the frame, the Phillies’ Nick Castellanos delivered an RBI single, but neither team managed to score again as Washington held on for a 4-2 win.

“These type of losses to scrub teams can keep you from winning a division or making the playoffs. Harper needs to find a way to knock that ground ball down,” a comment read.

“When this Phillies team has already won a series- they take the last game off. Never try to sweep a team. Mentally, heads are not in the game. Poor at bats and terrible defense,” another fan said.

“Bryce Harper plays like he doesn’t care about anything,” someone wrote.

Bryce Harper on his tenure with the Phillies

Bryce Harper joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019 after signing a 13-year, $330 million contract. Now halfway through that deal, Harper reflected on his time with the team in March, saying (via Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic):

“Halfway through, that’s pretty crazy. Obviously, I want to play longer than what I’ve got left. I think everybody knows that.”

The Philadelphia Phillies are scheduled to face the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday at Citizens Bank Park.

About the author

Chirag Dhariya is a baseball reporter at Sportskeeda with over two years of experience in content writing and SEO. While it may not seem directly related to his current profession, Chirag believes his graduation in Commerce instilled in him the research and analytical skills essential for this job.

A New York Mets fan, Chirag was introduced to baseball and its popularity in Japan, thanks to anime. He considers Sonny Gray securing his 100th career win in the same place where he got his first win - the Oakland Coliseum, as one of his favorite moments from recent MLB history.

Chirag's writing process involves meticulous research and multiple proofreads to ensure his articles provide the readers with accurate facts packaged in a simple yet engaging manner.

He is also a Google Analytics enthusiast and a huge anime fan who likes to keep himself updated with the current trends in the genre.

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Edited by Chirag Dhariya