Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, a former star for the Washington Nationals, hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the ninth inning on Thursday night, capping a seven-run rally that stunned the Nationals. The Phillies, who had trailed 5-0, went on to win, moving within four games of the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
Harper's 18th home run of the season came after he endured a night of vulgar "F--k Bryce Harper" chants from the Washington crowd. As he rounded the bases after his decisive hit, Harper twice saluted the fans with his ring finger.
"Ring finger, though, just want to make sure that's out there," Harper said after the game, indicating he is accustomed to hostile environments despite finding this particular one surprising. "It's all part of it. It's weird coming from a fanbase, obviously, that I sweated for seven years, but there's a lot of people around here that enjoy me. It's all fun."
Harper played for the Nationals from 2012 to 2018 before signing with the Phillies in 2019. The Nationals went on to win the World Series the year after trading him.
Over the past week, Harper has been on a hitting streak, batting .429 with three home runs. At 33 years old, he continues to perform at a high level, having been a touted prospect since his high school days and a two-time MVP. The events of Thursday night suggest his competitive fire remains strong, even in his eighth season with the Phillies.