Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
ALL-STAR FESTIVITIES
Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals outslugged Kyle Schwarber to win the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday at Nationals Park in Washington. Harper edged Schwarber 19-18 in the final round, hitting 45 home runs total.
WASHINGTON — Bryce Harper thrilled the home crowd and made his father proud, winning the All-Star Home Run Derby on Monday night with a display of power that carried him past Kyle Schwarber of the Chicago Cubs 19-18.
Harper hit the contest-winning blast in extra time, the reward for hitting two home runs at least 440 feet during the four minutes of regulation. After he connected with the game winner, the Washington Nationals slugger threw his bat in the air and pointed both index fingers toward the sky as a shower of streamers rained upon the crowd of 43,698.
The six-time All-Star arranged to have his dad, Ron, pitch to him in the annual contest on the eve of the All-Star Game.
Harper responded with a performance that drew the loudest cheers of the night at Nationals Park.
It’s been a trying season for Harper, who’s hitting only .214 for the disappointing Nationals. He won a contest that many sluggers avoid, fearful it might wear them out and throw them off.
The 2015 NL MVP beat Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves and Max Muncy of the Dodgers before trumping the fifth-seeded Schwarber, who put the pressure on with a solid outing before Harper stepped to the plate.
Harper trailed Schwarber 18-9 with 1:20 left before rallying. He homered on nine of his last 10 swings before entering extra time.
Hours before the session, Harper spoke excitedly about having his dad pitch to him in the contest. The 25-year-old said his father “worked his tail off every single day to provide for me and my family” and “now being able to have him throw to me in a big league ballpark is the cherry on top.”
Harper trailed Muncy of the Dodgers 12-4 with 2:20 left, then peeled off six home runs in 47 seconds before calling a timeout.
Harper returned to hit three more home runs in 22 seconds, the last of them inside the right-field foul pole.