Washington Nationals Rapid Reaction: Clint Robinson Saves The Day For Nats Offense
By Ricky Keeler
Jul 3, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) at bat against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Harper Continues To Show Patience At The Plate
In last night’s game, Bryce Harper hardly saw any good pitches to hit when he went up against Jake Peavy. In fact, with a man on second and two outs in the first inning, the Giants elected to intentionally walk the Nats superstar with first base open. Out of the 59 walks Harper has had this season, eight of them have been intentional. He had eight combined intentional walks in the last two seasons.
After seeing five pitches during his second at-bat in the fourth inning, Peavy was able to attack Harper in the seventh with the lead, but the right fielder was able to draw a walk on six pitches. For me, this shows another stage in Harper’s development.
Even though he has not hit a home run in his last seven games, he has not pressed at the plate and has taken a pitch that he does not like. Despite battling injuries, he still has a hit in eight of his last ten games. The home runs will come and one nearly did in the eighth inning when Harper just missed a 96 mile per hour fastball on a 2-0 pitch from Josh Osich and flew out to left field.
Even though Harper had only six home runs in June, his average was .370, which was ten points higher than his batting average in May (.360) and in five fewer at-bats. The runs haven’t piled up for the Nats in the last couple of games, but Harper has been the same patient hitter that fans have seen from him all season. Plus, he did have three homers against the Giants last year. Who knows what the next two games have in store?