The tension between the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants escalated on Wednesday afternoon at Oracle Park when lefty Kyle Harrison threw two consecutive fastballs up and in on Bryce Harper. The incident led to benches and bullpens clearing, but it fell short of a full-blown brawl.
Harper, who had words for Harrison after the first pitch, managed to foul off the second fastball before grounding out later in the at-bat. Both players shared their perspectives after the game, with Harrison stating that he was simply trying to get Harper out and would have gone inside again if given the chance.
Interestingly, Wednesday marked the seven-year anniversary of the infamous Harper vs. Hunter Strickland brawl at Oracle Park. In that incident, Harper charged the mound after being hit by a Strickland fastball to the hip. Harper acknowledged that Harrison wasn’t trying to hit him this time and expressed that he wasn’t overly upset about the situation.
Harper, who has faced multiple hit-by-pitch incidents in recent years, including a serious injury in 2021, has more reason than most to be sensitive to pitches up and in. Despite the tension, Harper was 2 for 2 with a home run against Harrison before striking out in his first two at-bats of the game.
While the incident didn’t escalate into a full-scale brawl, it certainly added another chapter to the history between Harper and the Giants, making for an intense and engaging moment in the game.