Bryce Harper, Ryan Zimmerman hit clutch home runs to lead Nationals over Cubs
With the Nationals trailing the Cubs 3-1, and Washington facing the imminent threat of falling behind 2-0 in the NLDS, Bryce Harper stepped up. In the bottom of the eighth inning, the 24-year-old five-time All-Star clobbered a two-run home run to right center field.
He absolutely destroyed the pitch from Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr.
Bryce Harper is unbelievable. Nationals tie the game at 3. ? pic.twitter.com/AujNixP9HW
— LeadingMLB ™ (@LeadingMLB) October 8, 2017
Bryce Harper just hit one 2,000 miles to tie the game in the 8th.
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) October 8, 2017
BRYCE. HARPER.
Clutch gene. WOW. Tie game. #NLDS pic.twitter.com/S6qCMveUcE
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2017
Bryce Harper just posterized a baseball.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) October 8, 2017
Bryce Harper is just a little pumped after hitting a 2-run ? #NLDS2017 #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/3vHIMrgPHd
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 8, 2017
Harper added a bat flip, too.
✌️#NLDS pic.twitter.com/A4J9rFXLKN
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2017
As soon as the celebration for Harper’s moonshot settled, the veteran Ryan Zimmerman followed it up with a three-run home run of his own, with this one coming at the expense of Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery. Zimmerman’s home run put Washington up 6-3.
The longest tenured #Nats veteran Ryan Zimmerman just belted a lead-taking three-run HR. Zim is euphoric. The Nats are losing their minds.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) October 8, 2017
Game? Untied. Series? Tied.
Ryan Zimmerman comes up HUGE. #NLDS pic.twitter.com/g98Ehko8j0
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2017
The Nationals held on for the 6-3 win, tying their series with the reigning MLB champs at one game apiece.