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The Chicago Cubs had a unique approach to pitching to Bryce Harper by not pitching to Bryce Harper. They walked him in each of his first three plate appearances, however, leading 5-4 with one out and Anthony Rendon on base, the Cubs made the call to pitch to Harper in the seventh inning. That proved to be a huge mistake.
Harper tattooed a cutter from Justin Wilson over the center-field wall to give the Nationals the 6-5 lead. As soon as it left his bat, it was no doubt it wasn’t landing in the field of play, as the ball just missed nailing the Nationals’ bullpen cart.
Bryce Harper walked.
Bryce Harper walked.
Bryce Harper walked.
Bryce Harper definitely didn't walk. pic.twitter.com/EfRcFl2FHS— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 9, 2018
Cubs manager Joe Maddon’s reaction says it all, as Harper crossed home plate.
After struggling through the first half of the season, Harper has been wreaking havoc in the second half of the season since winning the Home Run Derby at Nats Park back in July. Since the All-Star break, Harper is hitting .329/.444/.595 after a dismal first half that finished with .214 batting average.
However, the excitement was short-lived. After Sean Doolittle debuted the Nats’ bullpen cart in the eighth, the heavens opened up and poured rain over Nationals Park, forcing the game into a rain delay at 12:02 a.m. EDT.
