Harper’s broken-bat homer isn’t Nats’ biggest surprise
The “shear” power of Bryce Harper was startling. The late comeback by the Nationals? Yep, that was shocking, too.
Harper hit an eyepopping, broken-bat homer early, then grounded a key single during a six-run surge in the eighth inning that sent Washington past the Mets 8-6 in New York on Monday night.
“Barreled it pretty good,” Harper said. “It just broke and kept going.”
The Nationals rallied against five pitchers in their burst, winning for the fourth time in 13 games. The Mets had been off to the best start in franchise history behind the majors’ top bullpen before collapsing.
“That was big, super big. I’m not going to sit here and lie,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “It’s a big pick me-up.”
Trailing 6-1, Washington combined five hits, three walks and a hit batter to go ahead.
Harper’s two-run single off Jerry Blevins made it 6-3. Wilmer Difo tied it with a two-out, two-run single off Jeurys Familia, and Michael A. Taylor drew a bases-full walk for a 7-6 lead.
“It was just unfortunate,” New York manager Mickey Callaway said. “Off night for a few of them. But we have to move on.”
Harper hit his majorleague-high eighth home run, and his 33½-inch, 31½-ounce Marucci bat paid the price. It cracked into two pieces, but the ball flew an estimated 406 feet to right-center.
On his way back to the dugout, Harper playfully pulled up his sleeve to show his biceps.
The 25-year-old, the 2015 NL MVP, has hit 158 home runs. Anything like that?
“Uh, no,” Harper said.