Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Wednesday 18 July 2018

Hometown hero Harper wins thrilling HR Derby over Schwarber

By DAVID GINSBURG with the game winner, the Harper, who’s hitting only
AP Sports Writer Nationals star immediate- .214 for the disappointing
WASHINGTON (AP) — The ly went into celebration Nationals. He won a con-
ball cleared the center field mode. test that many sluggers
wall, and the sellout crowd “We have some of the best avoid, fearful it might wear
roared. Bryce Harper threw fans in all of baseball, and them out and throw them
his bat in the air, thrust both to be able to that with my off.
index fingers skyward and family out there, that’s an He can only hope this
yelled with delight as a incredible moment, not helps him get back into the
shower of streamers rained only for me but for the or- swing.
upon the crowd of 43,698. ganization and the Nation- The 2015 NL MVP beat
It could have been a scene als fans,” Harper said. Freddie Freeman of the At-
from a playoff game. That Harper’s teammate, Max lanta Braves and Max Mun-
it was merely the All-Star Scherzer, the NL starter on cy of the Dodgers before
Home Run Derby mattered Tuesday night, also appre- trumping the fifth-seeded
not to Harper or the Wash- Washington Nationals Bryce Harper stands with his father Ron ciated the moment. Schwarber, who put the
ington Nationals fans, who Harper after Bryce won the Major League Baseball Home Run “It’s awesome. Home- pressure on with a solid out-
were thrilled to see their Derby, Monday, July 16, 2018 in Washington. town,” Scherzer said. “The ing before Harper stepped
hometown hero deliver the Associated Press crowd is behind him. He to the plate.
night’s final longball Mon- Nationals, baby!” Chicago Cubs 19-18. found some rhythm, kept it “As soon as I got done with
day. With an exceptional dis- Harper hit the contest-win- simple and just continued that round I told myself that
In the midst of it all — and play of power and clutch ning blast in extra time, the to hit home run after home (Harper) had it,” Schwarber
in the middle of trying sea- hitting, Harper rallied in the reward for hitting two hom- run.” said. “I knew that he had
son — Harper grabbed the final round, connecting on ers at least 440 feet during Wearing a headband that the home crowd behind
microphone and said: “This pitches from his father to the 4 minutes of regula- resembled the District of him.” Harper, who has 23
crowd: Wow! Washington beat Kyle Schwarber of the tion. After he connected Columbia flag and display- home runs this season, ad-
ing a right sleeve with stars vanced to the final with an
and stripes, Harper trailed astonishing spree of long-
18-9 with 1:20 left before ball hitting. He trailed Max
rallying. He homered on Muncy of the Dodgers 12-4
nine of his last 10 swings be- with 2:20 left, then peeled
fore entering extra time. off six homers in 47 seconds
The six-time All-Star ar- before calling a timeout.
ranged to have his dad, Harper returned to hit three
Ron, pitch to him in the an- more home runs in 22 sec-
nual contest on the eve onds, the last of them inside
of the All-Star Game. That the right-field foul pole.
made the victory even The semifinal matchup
sweeter. between Schwarber and
“I’m only as good as my Philadelphia’s Rhys Hoskins
BP guy,” Harper said with a went down to the final
grin. swing. After stunning top-
Hours before the session, seed Jesus Aguilar of Mil-
Harper spoke excitedly waukee in the opening
about having his dad pitch round, the eighth-seeded
to him in the contest. The Hoskins ripped 20 long
25-year-old said his father balls to put the pressure
“worked his tail off every on Schwarber.Using a late
single day to provide for surge, Schwarber pulled
me and my family” and one ball after another
“now being able to have over the right field wall to
him throw to me in a big squeeze out a 21-20 victory
league ballpark is the cher- — by far the highest-scor-
ry on top.” ing matchup of the night.
Afterward, Ron Harper said The fans dutifully cheered
of his son: “He did great. So most home runs during the
I’m really proud of him. He’s first round, but they saved
a great kid. You couldn’t their loudest cheers for
ask for anything better.” Harper, the last player to
It’s been a tough year for step to the plate.q