Bryce Harper’s Philadelphia Phillies are off to a sensational start to the season and have the best record in baseball at 37-15, though his ability to help them on Friday night was short-lived as the Phillies fell, 3-2, to the Colorado Rockies after Harper’s first-inning ejection.
Harper was bummed out after the game, as he spiked his helmet and was then ejected while trying to discuss the strike zone with the umpire.
In a statement to the media, Harper expressed his disappointment: “No, I mean I wasn’t really that upset. I mean, obviously, I spiked my helmet, but that wasn’t in frustration from the call. And then I just kind of asked him, ‘Hey, I don’t believe that was a strike, but where do you have it? Just so I know,’” per NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Harper added, “And then I just told him, ‘I just wanted to have a conversation with you.’ Again, didn’t cuss, didn’t scream or anything really. Then another ump came over, say what he had to say, and that’s kind of it.”
The Phillies could have used Harper in the game, as his replacement Johan Rojas went 0-4 and struck out looking after two failed bunt attempts in extra innings.
It was the 21st ejection of Harper’s career, and one that didn’t appear to be well-deserved.
