August 30, 2023

WATCH: Bryce Harper crushes 300th career homer for the Phillies lead

Everyone in Citizens Bank Park knew as soon as they heard the crack of the bat.

By Nick Tricome
PhillyVoice Staff

Down a run late with one on, and who else?

Bryce Harper turned on the first pitch he saw from Angels reliever Matt Moore, launching one into the right-field seats for the 8-7 Phillies lead heading into the ninth, and for Harper himself, career home run No. 300.

Check out the momentum-shifting, and milestone-crossing, two-run shot below:

Bryce Harper is him.

HIM. pic.twitter.com/r1L7zf5JsM
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) August 30, 2023

Yeah, everyone in Citizens Bank Park knew as soon as they heard the crack of the bat. And of course, the moment was capped off with a curtain call and another signature flash of the 'Phillies' logo across his chest.

"He certainly has a flair for the dramatic," manager Rob Thomson said postgame.

And a knack for always being in the right place at the right time.

"Being able to do it at home, in front of these fans, there's nothing like it," Harper said after reaching the 300-homer mark. "I'm very fortunate and very blessed to put this uniform on each day with 'Phillies' across my chest, and I'm so thankful that me and [owner John Middleton] were able to sit down after the 2018 season and get something done...

"I just...I love being a Phillie. Plain and simple. It's something I dream about. This fan base, this city, I just...I love 'em. I really do. Plain and simple. I feel like I'm part of this family and they're part of our family as well, and it's just...there's nothing like it. I can go on and on, and everybody thinks I pander a lot, but it's real. It's so real, it's from the bottom of my heart, and I'm just thankful to put this jersey on every day."

The home run was Harper's 15th on the season and his 10th alone this month, continuing what's been an unreal power surge for the Phillies through August.

It also put them on the brink of a three-game sweep of the Angels and their sixth consecutive win, but a blown Craig Kimbrel save put a pause on those plans, with the Phils ultimately going on to drop Wednesday's series finale 10-8.

Still, wins in five of their last six, a 17-10 run through August with an astronomical 59 home runs hit as a team, and a 4.5-game buffer built up over the NL Wild Card race, the Phillies will definitely take that.

Plus a major career mark for their biggest star.

"It's exciting, you know?" Thomson said. "He loves playing here, people love him here. He does big things for this ball club and this organization, so it's a well-deserved curtain call and very expected."

"Hopefully there's 300 more," Harper quipped.