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Washington Nationals: Phillies’ Strategy Against Bryce Harper Pays Off

By Ricky Keeler

Apr 26, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) looks to throw first base to complete the double play after tagging out Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 26, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) looks to throw first base to complete the double play after tagging out Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco (7) fifth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Nationals
Apr 26, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a rbi single during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Phillies New Strategy Against Harper

With Bryce Harper off to such a great start, it’s been a surprise all season that teams had not intentionally walked him more often. Before last night’s loss, the reigning NL MVP had only been intentionally walked twice this season. Last night, the Phillies equaled that total.

While Harper wasn’t intentionally walked by Velasquez in the first, the Phillies’ right-hander did pitch around him and walked him on five pitches. Then, he was given the free pass intentionally in the third and the seventh.

However, the one spot where they should’ve walked him when they didn’t was the fifth. Velasquez got ahead of Harper 0-2, but he stayed patient and found a way to hit a 97 mile per hour fastball into left for a single to drive in Michael Taylor and cut the lead to a run.

Then, after an intentional walk in the seventh, Harper came up to at-bat as the winning run against Jeanmar Gomez, who he homered off of in their last meeting. During that at-bat, he fouled off four straight pitches from behind 1-2 in the count, but he ended up grounding out on a changeup to end the game.

You would think that a lot of teams would follow the Phillies model during the season of giving Harper the free base. However, it was good to see the Nats’ right fielder continue to stay patient and even come through with another RBI for the team, albeit in a losing effort.

Next: More Opportunities For Zimmerman

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