The MLB All-Star Game in Philadelphia didn’t go great for the home team’s fans. But one moment gave them something to talk about, even if it wasn’t a highlight for the National League.
Bryce Harper stepped in against Cleveland Guardians reliever Cade Smith in the fourth inning. Harper was wearing a microphone, which meant everyone got to hear his honest reaction after Smith froze him with a nasty splitter for strike three.
“That’s disgusting guys. Sorry about that,” Harper said into the mic after swinging through a pitch that dropped sharply out of the zone. The broadcast caught every word. The clip went viral almost immediately.
The pitch that broke Harper
Smith started the at-bat with a four-seam fastball that missed. Then he threw a 98 mph heater that Harper chased and missed. After another ball, Harper watched a fastball go by for a called strike. On the fifth pitch, Smith unleashed the splitter. It started like a heater and then just fell off the table. Harper couldn’t get the bat on it.
Smith has been that kind of tough all year. He’s 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. He’s averaging 5.7 strikeouts per walk and has 28 saves. The guy is having a season.
Harper is no slouch either. He’s hitting .260 with a .365 on-base percentage and a .497 slugging percentage. He’s got 20 home runs and 57 RBIs so far. But Smith made him look ordinary on that one pitch.
Not a great night for the Phillies at the ASG
Harper wasn’t the only Phillie who struggled in front of the home crowd. Christopher Sanchez gave up three runs in his inning of work. Brandon Marsh and Kyle Schwarber both went 0-for-2. It was not the showcase Philly fans were hoping for.
The Phillies head into the second half of the season at 54-43, which puts them second in the NL East and holding the second wild card spot in the National League. They open up Friday against the New York Mets at home. Harper and the rest of the lineup will try to put the All-Star Game behind them and focus on making a real run.
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