Phillies, Giants bench clear after Bryce Harper nearly faces HBP

The benches were cleared during Wednesday’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants after Kyle Harrison nearly hit Bryce Harper on back-to-back pitches, which the superstar didn’t appreciate.

Harper eventually grounded out to shortstop, with runners on second and third, to end the top of the fourth inning.

In April 2021, Harper took a 97-mph submarine to the face from St. Louis Cardinals reliever Genesis Cabrera, forcing him to leave the game and undergo a CT scan.

In June 2022, Blake Snell hit him with a 97 mph fastball, fracturing his thumb and costing him two months on the injured list. He was able to return late that season and help the Phillies reach the World Series.

Harper also has a bit of history with the Giants. Exactly seven years agoduring his time with the Washington Nationals, Harper charged the mound after being hit by San Francisco reliever Hunter Strickland, as the two exchanged punches in a bench-clearing brawl between the two teams.

This year, the 31-year-old slugger is hitting .267 with 13 homers, 41 RBI, 32 runs, and a .901 OPS, putting himself in the MVP conversation. He’s been in a bit of a slump of late, with no hits in the three games before Wednesday’s matchup with the Giants.

The Phillies have also hit a rough patch, currently mired in their first three-game losing streak of the season. It’s been an overall great start to the year, however, Philly still has the best mark in baseball at 38-18.

That helped the team open a five-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. The Braves have won the division six straight times, although the Phillies have eliminated them from the past two seasons.