Harper’s steal of home fails, sets up Reds’ rally
Attempt to steal home was ‘overaggressive.’
Phillies star’s fifth-inning hustle backfires as Votto, Suarez rally visiting Cincinnati with RBI hits in the seventh inning.
Bryce Harper was PHILADELPHIA — about 45 feet down the line and had Phillies fans on their feet as he took off for a straight steal of home. With the Phillies ahead by a run and slugger Rhys Hoskins at the plate, Harper thought the gamble was worth the payoff.
Harper dashed on right-hander Sonny Gray’s fastball and slid into home , out in a puff of dirt on the tag by Curt Casali.
Harper’s hustle in the fifth inning had backfired — and the Phillies’ lead soon disappeared in a 4-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
“I had a good read, good jump,” Harper said. “I think if I just slid headfirst, got my hand in there a little bit, it probably would have been better. I probably should know if my guy has a take sign or not just in case he swings and puts one right in my face.”
Joey Votto tied the game for Cincinnati with a two-out single in the seventh, and Eugenio Suárez followed with the go-ahead hit as the Reds avoided a three-game sweep.
“Just a lot of good things happened today to be able to win that game,” Reds manager David Bell said.
Harper got tangled up in a pair of plays at the plate, scoring from second on a misplayed popup but getting thrown out on the attempted steal of home.
Trailing 1-0, the Phillies loaded the bases with two outs in the third against Grey. Hoskins hit a routine popup to first base that Votto appeared to lose in the sun. The ball plopped untouched on the field, and Maikel Franco scored from third and Harper from second. Harper initially was called out by plate umpire, but he had gotten his right leg to the plate between the legs of catcher Casali’s legs and was ruled safe after a video review.
Jean Segura’s sacrifice fly in the fifth made it 3-1. With two outs and Hoskins up again, Harper broke for the plate and was tagged out by Casali. When Harper was a rookie with Washington in 2012, Harper stole home on Cole Hamels after the Phillies lefty drilled him in the game.
The Phillies weren’t pleased with this attempt, either.
“He has been very aggressive on the bases and he’s won some games for us with his aggressive baserunning,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. “He and I spoke about it and he understands that was a little overaggressive.”
Raisel Iglesias allowed the potential tying run to reach base in the ninth, but tossed a scoreless inning for his 13th save in 14 chances. Zach Duke (3-1) pitched one-third of an inning, helping stop Philadelphia’s four-game win streak. Harperhad achance to tie the game in the eighth but Amir Garrett struck him out.
Aaron Nola tossed four-hit ball over 62/3 innings as he tried to match teammate Nick Pivetta with a second straight complete game.