Bryce Harper and the Phillies got revenge against the Braves

The Philadelphia Phillies advanced to the National League Championship Series after beating the Atlanta Braves 3-1 in Game 4 of the NLDS on Thursday.

The Phillies were able to close the series thanks in part to Bryce Harper’s revenge performance in Game 3 on Wednesday, which followed his game-ending mistake in Game 2 and some taunting from Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia.

What did Bryce Harper do in Game 2?

Down a run and with one out in the ninth inning of Game 2, Harper was on first when Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos hit a deep ball into the outfield. Harper had already rounded second base when Braves center fielder Michael Harris II caught the ball.

Harper tried to return to first to avoid the double play but was tagged out, ending the game and tying the series at 1-1.

What did Orlando Arcia say about Bryce Harper?

Following Game 2, reporters overheard Arcia mocking Harper in Atlanta’s locker room.

“Ha-ha, atta-boy, Harper,” he said, according to CBS Sports.

How did Bryce Harper respond to Orlando Arcia in Game 3?

Word of Arcia’s comments got back to the Phillies and Harper. The Phillies first basemen showed up to Game 3 on Wednesday in a “Coach Prime” T-shirt, foreshadowing how he’d silence the critics.

Harper hit two home runs that night, including a three-run homer, and he stared down Arcia both times he passed him while rounding the bases.

The Phillies beat the Braves 10-2 in Game 3. Harper was asked if he enjoyed the stare down in his postgame press conference.

“Yeah, I mean I stared right at him,” he said, per a video shared by Bleacher Report on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.

Following the loss, Arcia addressed the comments he made about Harper and said they weren’t supposed to be made public.

“He wasn’t supposed to hear it,” he said, according to ESPN. “That’s why we were talking in the clubhouse. ... When you’re in the clubhouse, I’m under the impression you can say whatever you wanted. I guess it was something that was reported.”

In response to the stare down, Arcia said Harper “can look wherever he wants to look.”

What did the Phillies say about Bryce Harper and Orlando Arcia’s comments?

Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker told The Athletic that he knew Harper was going to respond in Game 3 and he was right.

“We all knew when he showed up and didn’t say a word,” he said. “He was just locked in from right when he showed up. We just said, ‘OK. He’s going to do something crazy today.’ And he did it twice. He almost did it three times.”

Phillies shortstop Trea Turner said Harper is not the bear you want to poke, according to ESPN.

“There’s one person I would never talk about,” he said. “It’s that guy (Harper). We don’t call him the showman for nothing.”

Phillies fans made sure to dish it back to Arcia in Game 4. They were heard chanting “atta-boy” when he was at bat, according to a video shared by Talkin’ Baseball on X.

The Phillies will host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first game of the NLCS on Monday.