ATLANTA -- Bryce Harper wasted no time atoning for what could have been an ugly lasting memory for the Phillies.
With the season on the line in Wednesday's Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series, Harper badly misplayed a line drive to turn what should have been a routine out into a pivotal go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning. But in the very next frame, Harper tied the game by going back-to-back with Kyle Schwarber. Those blasts, along with Alec Bohm's go-ahead solo shot in the 10th, helped Philly force Game 3 in the NL Wild Card Series with a 4-3 win over the Braves.
The drama began with the game locked in a 1-1 tie with one out and runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh. Braves designated hitter Drake Baldwin sent a fly ball out to right field. Harper initially turned to his left before pausing briefly and pivoting to his right.
He then began to backpedal as he tracked a ball that continued to carry on him. Harper leaped at the last moment, only to have the ball glance off his glove and roll onto the warning track.
Sean Murphy, who had already retreated to second base in anticipation of Harper making the grab, instead scored easily on the play to give Atlanta the lead. The Braves tacked on another run two batters later on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 3-1 and knock out Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez after 6 2/3 innings -- and a career-high 116 pitches.
Making the play all the more unfortunate for the Phillies is that the only reason Harper moved back to right field in the first place was to accommodate Luis Arraez -- a player who is not on the NL Wild Card Series roster due to a sprained left ankle.
It was Arraez's arrival at the Trade Deadline that prompted a defensive overhaul. Harper went from first base to right field, Bohm moved from third to first and Bryson Stott went from second to third.
The wild experiment paid off for the most part. Harper settled back in nicely despite not having played the outfield since 2022 -- and not having done so regularly since 2021. Stott continued to play Gold Glove-caliber defense at third base. Bohm had some bumps, but was solid for the most part, including turning a remarkable 3-2-3 double play in the sixth to keep the game tied.
For a brief moment on Wednesday, it seemed as if the grand experiment was all going to fall apart.
But then, "The Showman" did what he does best.