NL DIVISION SERIES: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

October 7, 2023

Bryce Harper

Truist Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Postgame 1 Press Conference

Phillies 3 - Braves 0

Q. Bryce, do you mind walking us through that homerun and just your overall game tonight?

BRYCE HARPER: Yeah. Strider, man, he's one of the best in the game, if not the best right now, striking guys out, and he had a phenomenal year. So it's always a tough at-bat. You know he's going to come at you and throw his best at you. So just trying to get a pitch over and was able to get the slider up and do some damage.

Q. What did you think of the effort from the pitching staff tonight against a very good offense in their home park?

BRYCE HARPER: Yeah, I mean, you said it, right? I mean, that's one of the best offenses in the game. In their home ballpark, and for us to come down here and get one from us, and the first one, is huge. They're a really good team, and I thought our starter, Ranger, threw really well. He's a no-heartbeat guy for us that goes out there, and he pitches well in big games. Our bullpen came in and really did the job. Ser threw great; Hoffman, big double play right there by Trae with Strahmer. And then Albies and Kimbrel, of course. So it was really good.

Q. Bryce, sweeping the Marlins this week, how do you feel that helped you keep the momentum going from the regular season as opposed to having a week off?

BRYCE HARPER: Yeah, I think anytime you have a week off and rest your body, it's always good for you, but of course, playing baseball, you want to play every day and try to. But I thought we played really well against the Marlins, turned that page, and came right in here and tried to play our best game against them in Game 1. Like I said, that's one of the best teams in all of baseball, one of the best offenses and one of the best starters in the game, and we were able to take them down Game 1.

Q. It won't go down obviously as a steal, but the threat of being able to run, what does that do to the opposing pitcher, especially in that instance in the fourth?

BRYCE HARPER: Yeah, anytime you're able to put pressure on anybody, talking about the Braves again because they're one of the best teams at it. That's why they win ballgames. And we were able to do that tonight. I thought we ran the bases well. I thought we played really good defense and just timely hitting and really good pitching.

Q. Obviously everyone knows the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park. Does it kind of feel good to come into another place and just kind of suck the energy out of it?

BRYCE HARPER: Yeah. This is a great crowd. They've always been really good ever since they were over at Turner and then coming here as well. Playing at Turner at a young age, you knew you were going to come in here, and that's going to be a tough crowd to play in front of, and coming in here it's the same thing. So they got some really good fans here, and I expect it to be like that in Game 2 as well.

Q. Speaking of that, what did you think during that 8th inning interruption out there?

BRYCE HARPER: Just too bad it happened. That's about it.

Q. What was going through your mind when you saw Rob go to the mound to take Ranger out, and was it a pleasant surprise that everything worked out the way it did?

BRYCE HARPER: Yeah, I mean, I thought Ranger threw the ball really well, but I think we have a really good bullpen down there also. Anytime Coach makes a decision, it's for the best of our team, best situation for our team. So bringing in Hof right there was a great decision on his part in that situation, and it worked out, like you said, so really good.