Bryce Harper delivered in the postseason for the Philadelphia Phillies once again, and he made sure Orlando Arcia knew it.
Harper came up to the plate against Bryce Elder with runners on the corners and two outs as Game 3 of the NLDS between his Phillies and the Atlanta Braves was tied at one in the bottom of the third. The Phillies slugger jacked a ball down the middle out to deep right field for a huge 3-run home run to make it 4-1.
Harper admired his blast for a moment and then began his trot around the bases. As he headed toward second base, Harper’s eyes shifted to Braves shortstop Arcia.
https://twitter.com/Phillies/status/1712229570479288701
Though the TBS broadcast team ignored what Harper had done while rounding second, multiple reporters made note of it. MLB also later released a video showing Harper looking at Arcia.
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1712231439280836662
https://twitter.com/MattGelb/status/1712228764812193861
https://twitter.com/CSeidmanNBCS/status/1712228727789146448
https://twitter.com/ToddZolecki/status/1712229246620270998
Harper stared at Arcia as he rounded second base. That comment Arcia made did not go unnoticed, obviously.
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) October 11, 2023
Arcia quickly became infamous in Philadelphia over what he said following Game 2. The Braves shortstop reportedly mocked Harper for being doubled off first base to end Game 2.
The reported comments from Arcia did not go unnoticed by those in Philly. Fans at Citizens Bank Park booed Arcia when he came to the plate in the second.
https://twitter.com/JClarkNBCS/status/1712219672869822631
Arcia was also booed in pregame introductions. The Phillies have some extra juice now in the series, which was tied 1-1 after two games.
