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Bryce Harper makes ‘inexcusable’ mistake after preaching urgency to Phillies

Bryce Harper was released on bail on Monday evening.

The Phillies batter stared at a long fly ball with one out and the bases empty in the bottom of the ninth inning, turning a double into a single in a game tied 1-1 against the Rays.

“Oh no,” said a frustrated John Kruk in the Phillies' locker room after the ball bounced off the top of the fence. “You can't take anything for granted. That's unforgivable. You're fighting to win your division to get a first-round bye. You can't do that.”

The camera showed a picture of Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who also seemed unhappy with the turn of events.

“He takes responsibility and admits his mistakes,” Thomson said of Harper after the game, according to AP.

The Phillies made up for their mistake by loading the bases with an infield single and a walk before Kody Clemens delivered a walkoff single.

Bryce Harper stares at a long fly ball in the ninth inning of the Phillies' game against the Rays on September 9, 2024. CrossingBroad/X

This came after a disappointing tie over the weekend, when the Marlins and the red-hot Mets lurked seven games back in the NL East standings.

Ironically, it was Harper who set off alarm bells after Sunday's 10-1 loss to Miami.

“Keep going. This division is far from over,” Harper told NBC Sports Philadelphia.

Rob Thomson reacts to Bryce Harper's lack of effort. CrossingBroad/X
Bryce Harper in the win over the Rays on September 9, 2024. Getty Images

“Obviously, we've got two good teams behind us. We're going to play the Mets a couple of times. We've got to keep going. We can't really worry about the magic number or anything like that. The magic number is nothing to worry about unless it's under 10 games. We've got to keep going, keep fighting. Obviously, we've got to stay as healthy as we can as a team. We've still got to play games and get in.”

Harper may have been a little nervous when he saw the ball fly over the right-field fence, as he hadn't hit a home run since August 9.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, continued to play solid baseball, winning 12 of its last 16 games, to maintain its lead at the top of the division, which it has essentially held all season.

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