The Phillies lost Monday night 4-1 to the Nationals. That’s the headline. But the moment people are still talking about happened between innings, when Bryce Harper pulled Brandon Marsh aside for a quiet conversation.
The MLB account posted the video. Harper talking. Marsh listening. Nodding. Then Marsh stepped into the box in the seventh inning and launched a solo home run off a left-handed pitcher.
Which matters because Marsh had been 0-for-14 against lefties coming into that at-bat, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia. That’s a brutal stretch for any hitter. Harper saw his teammate struggling and did what he does.
Harper’s Leadership on Display
Nobody needs to be told Bryce Harper is the guy in that clubhouse. But Monday was a reminder. He’s not just the star who hits bombs and flips bats. He’s the one who pulls a struggling teammate aside when the cameras aren’t rolling — except this time they were.
The home run was Marsh’s 10th of the season, to go with 36 RBIs. Not bad for a guy who wasn’t even an everyday player when he first got to Philly. He’s carved out a role. Harper’s been part of that development.
Harper himself is hitting .269 with 17 homers and 44 RBIs. Solid numbers. But his real impact might be in moments like this one.
The Bigger Picture for Philly
The Phillies have been a different team since Don Mattingly took over as interim manager. Rob Thomson got fired after a brutal losing streak early in the year. Since then, Philadelphia has climbed back to second in the NL East, now 6.5 games behind the Braves.
They’re 42-36. Still in the mix. Still dangerous. And they’ve got the reigning NL MVP in the dugout reminding everyone what it means to grind through a bad stretch.
Marsh’s homer ended up being the only run the Phillies scored Monday. They lost 4-1. But if you’re looking for reasons to feel good about this team, that little moment between Harper and Marsh is probably one of them.
These two play again Tuesday night in D.C. Marsh will probably get another look at a lefty. Something tells me he’ll be ready.
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