WASHINGTON — The Nationals won in dramatic fashion on Wednesday night, but before Adam LaRoche’s heroics, Bryce Harper almost got in hot water again.
On Saturday, Nationals manager Matt Williams benched the star for the duration of a game against the St. Louis Cardinals for not hustling to first after hitting a ground ball to the pitcher.
Harper was out on the play, and probably would have been out anyway. On Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, it was pure luck that his slow trot didn’t cost him and the team.
With the Nats trailing 3-1, Harper hit a grounder to Angels first baseman Albert Pujols and began to trot slowly to the bag. This time, however, Pujols mishandled the ball. Only then did Harper charge toward first.
Pujols’ throw to pitcher Joe Smith was off-target, and Harper made it to first safely. A good throw could well have gotten him, and people on Twitter immediately grasped the parallels.
I defended Harper, but he just saw for himself why you #hustle to 1st. Learn, Grasshopper. #Nats
— Roger Noriega (@rogernoriegaUSA) April 24, 2014
When is Bryce gonna learn? His lax running almost cost him again. #nats
— Geoff Tuck (@ffg_off) April 24, 2014
I defended Harper, but he just saw for himself why you #hustle to 1st. Learn, Grasshopper. #Nats
— Roger Noriega (@rogernoriegaUSA) April 24, 2014
Lesson not learned: Harper shuffles halfway to first, belatedly turns on jets when ball is dropped #Nats
— Marc Fisher (@mffisher) April 24, 2014
Still not hustlin #letsgobryce #washington #nats @Nationals pic.twitter.com/8BwKxH1wNs
— Paul Jenkins (@TheRealPJenkins) April 24, 2014
RT “@RedPorchReport: That's why you run out grounders.”–> THIS x 100000000000000 #Nats
— Scufflin' (@34sPompadour) April 24, 2014
And THAT'S why you always run it out, Bryce. 😉 #Nats #natitude
— Allison (@AllisonMY) April 24, 2014
#Nats' LF Bryce Harper found another gear when he saw Albert Pujols misplay what should have been a groundout to 1st. E:3 instead. #runharp
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) April 24, 2014
Figures that would happen to Bryce after the benching incident the other day #Nats
— Eli Hajjar (@thatguyEli17) April 24, 2014
Harper just doesn't look like the same player this year. No hustle, no drive, not having fun–acts like he doesn't wanna be out there #Nats
— John Ladd (@jthorsen83) April 24, 2014
The Nationals didn’t score in the inning.
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