Phillies’ Bryce Harper ejected after charging Rockies dugout

By: Craig Meyer, The Associated Press Posted: 4:51 PM CDT Sunday, May. 14, 2023 Last Modified: 7:19 PM CDT Sunday, May. 14, 2023

Advertise with us

DENVER (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was ejected from Sunday's 4-0 loss to Colorado after charging at the Rockies’ dugout following the last out of the top of the seventh inning, setting off an altercation that cleared both teams’ benches and bullpens.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/05/2023 (911 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DENVER (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was ejected from Sunday’s 4-0 loss to Colorado after charging at the Rockies’ dugout following the last out of the top of the seventh inning, setting off an altercation that cleared both teams’ benches and bullpens.

Harper appeared to respond to Colorado reliever Jake Bird, who clapped a hand against his glove and said something toward the Philadelphia dugout.

“I get emotion,” Harper said. “I understand getting fired up for an inning and stuff like that, but once you make it about a team or make it about yourself and the other team, that’s when I’ve kind of got a problem with it.”

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper, left, is prompted back to the dugout after reacting to a taunt toward the Phillies' dugout by Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jake Bird after the top of the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Harper was initially restrained by Rockies catcher Elias Díaz, then Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan prevented the two-time NL MVP from entering a group of players and coaches gathered near the first-base line.

“After that point, I went out there just to go,” Harper said. “J.T. (Realmuto) was right behind me. Taijuan (Walker), same thing. I appreciate my teammates for coming out with me and doing that. It was the heat of the moment. Once we got out there, (Bird) just flew into the dugout and went away. Nobody really saw him after he did what he did.”

“A guy yelling in your dugout? That shouldn’t happen,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “Flat-out, that shouldn’t happen.”

Harper returned to the NL champion Phillies on May 2 after recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Bird was also ejected.

“I get a little emotional on the mound sometimes,” said Bird, who added his comments toward the dugout weren’t directed at anyone in particular. “It’s a good team. It was a big moment. I got a little emotional out there. They took exception to it.”

“He’s a great player,” Bird said of Harper. “He plays with emotion. I love that he plays with emotion. He’s a player I look up to.”

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper, left, is stopped by Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz, second from left, as home plate umpire Ryan Wills, right, looks on as Harper reacts after Rockies elief pitcher Jake Bird after Bird gestured toward the Phillies' dugout after retiring Phillies' Bryson Stott to end the top of the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Thomson had been thrown out the previous inning after arguing with plate umpire Ryan Wills over a called third strike on Kyle Schwarber.

“You never want to see your star players get thrown out of a game, but he’s protecting his teammates,” Thomson said of Harper. “That’s what this group does. They protect each other, they fight for each other and I’m proud of them for it. He’s an emotional guy and he was sticking up for his teammates.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports