Philly Leader

ATLANTA -- Orlando Arcia loudly mocked Bryce Harper in the Braves' clubhouse following Harper’s baserunning mistake that ended Game 2 of the 2023 National League Division Series at Truist Park. Arcia repeatedly laughed and yelled, “Atta boy, Harper!”

This incident reached Harper, who responded by staring down the Braves shortstop after each of his two home runs in Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park. These glares have since become iconic, immortalized on T-shirts and displayed inside the Phillies' clubhouse at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.

Arcia reminded everyone of that moment during the Phillies’ 3-2 victory on Wednesday night at Truist Park. After homering in the fourth inning to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead, Arcia stared down Harper as he rounded first base. However, unlike Harper after Game 3, Arcia declined to admit it afterward.

“I was just enjoying my home run,” Arcia said via an interpreter when asked about his actions.

Harper claimed he did not notice Arcia's stare. "Nah, I didn't,” Harper said. “I don't care. I couldn't care less. I already did it."

The rivalry between the Phillies and Braves remains intense, though Harper preferred to focus on their crucial victory which extended their lead over Atlanta in the NL East to seven games with 36 remaining.

“Big win,” Harper said. “That’s what we’ve got to do to win games like that... I thought Noles [Aaron Nola] threw the crap out of it today."

Nola had runners on first and second with one out in the sixth inning when Jeff Hoffman entered and induced an inning-ending double play. Matt Strahm pitched a scoreless seventh inning while Orion Kerkering delivered a scoreless eighth.

“You guys know, the last month isn’t what it’s been like [in the past],” Kerkering said regarding recent bullpen struggles. “I think it was a good confidence boost for us.”

The Phillies scored twice in the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2 through manufactured runs from Edmundo Sosa and Johan Rojas. They took the lead in the eighth inning following Weston Wilson’s leadoff double off Joe Jiménez.

Phillies manager Rob Thomson hinted Wilson might start Thursday night against right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach as a reward for his performance.

“That’s how you win playoff games,” Thomson stated after Brandon Marsh’s sacrifice fly brought Wilson home for what would be the winning run.

Phillies closer Carlos Estévez walked Arcia to start off a tense ninth inning but managed to end it without conceding further runs thanks to Harper's defensive effort against Whit Merrifield's ground ball up the first-base line.

"Yeah, I didn't want to get Buckner'd for sure,” Harper remarked, referencing Bill Buckner's infamous misplay.

Despite continued questions about his home run trot on Wednesday night, Arcia maintained that last year's events were not on his mind.

“Last year was last year,” he asserted. “I feel like we’ve already turned the page.”

His glance suggested otherwise according to some observers including Thomson who concluded with: “Yeah, that’s gamesmanship. But we won.”