Harper’s homer leads to win

» Bryce Harper hit a go-ahead solo homer in the seventh inning as one of the few regulars in Philadelphia’s lineup, and the Phillies rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-6 on Wednesday night, a day after clinching the NL’s top wild-card spot.

Surviving the game without incident was the goal for the Phillies.

Manager Rob Thomson said, yes, it would be nice if the Phillies — now with 89 victories — could reach 90 over their final four games. A night after the Phillies secured a spot in the postseason, and with the knowledge they will open Game 1 of the

playoffs Tuesday at home, Thomson said the goal was simply getting to the playoffs in one piece.

Wins and losses don’t necessarily matter.

“Not now. Not one bit,” Thomson said ahead of the

game. “I mean, it’d be nice to get to 90 wins. But to put people in jeopardy to get 90 wins, I’m not going to do that.”

A night after a raucous late-night celebration that saw outfielder Brandon

Marsh ride a mechanical bull, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, third baseman Alec Bohm, catcher J.T. Real- muto and right fielder Nick Castellanos all took the night off.

Harper played first base, had three hits, and slugged his 21st homer of the season off reliever Jose Hernandez (1-3) for the 7-6 lead.

Gregory Soto struck out the side in the ninth inning for his third save.

And yes, Garrett Stubbs also played.

The backup catcher became a social media hit in Philadelphia after videos of him dancing and drinking in overalls in the clubhouse on Tuesday night were unleashed into the viral universe, and there was faux concern that he could actually play.

Was he really hydrated? Was he rested?

Stubbs took a healthy cut on a four-seam fastball from Pirates starter Johan Oviedo in the fourth and hammered a three-run homer to right, his first of the season.

Phillies fans went wild for their cult hero, and he was welcomed at home with a warm embrace from Bryson Stott.

That cut the Phils’ deficit to 5-4, the second time in as many years the Phillies trailed early in the first game after a clincher.

MATT SLOCUM — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Phillies’ Bryce Harper follows through on a home run hit off Pittsburgh’s Jose Hernandez in the seventh inning on Wednesday.