Bryce Harper hit three home runs in Wednesday’s victory over the Marlins for the first time in his career.
What better way to get out of a 1-for-17 slump than three straight homers in your first three at bats in a game? That’s what the 22-year-old outfielder did in order to help the Washington Nationals get the victory against Miami.
All three dingers were off of Tom Koehler in what is a contract-year for Harper. He now has 8 HR, 20 RBI, .416 OBP, .561 SLG, .265 BA and a .977 OPS.
One shot went over the left-center field fence while the other two went over the right field wall. Both blasts were bombs that landed in the upper deck for about 442-feet each. Harper came up in the seventh with a chance for a fourth home run but had to settle for an RBI groundout, which was his fifth RBI for the day, according to MLB.com.
If Harper would have blasted a fourth homer, he would have been in exclusive company that only 16 players can say they’ve done. The last time it was done was in 2013 by Josh Hamilton.
List of players with four HR in a game, according to MLB.com:
Josh Hamilton, Rangers, 5/8/2012
Carlos Delgado, Jays, 9/25/2003
Shawn Green, Dodgers, 5/23/2002
Mike Cameron, Mariners, 5/2/2002
Mark Whiten, Cardinals, 9/7/1993
Bob Horner, Braves, 7/6/1986
Mike Schmidt, Phillies, 4/17/1976
Willie Mays, Giants, 4/30/1961
Rocky Colavito, Indians, 6/10/1959
Joe Adcock, Milwaukee Braves, 7/31/1954
Gil Hodges, Brooklyn Dodgers, 8/31/1950
Pat Seerey, Sox, 7/18/1948
Chuck Klein, Phillies, 7/10/1936
Lou Gehrig, Yankees, 6/3/1932
Ed Delahanty, Phillies, 7/13/1896
Bobby Lowe, Boston Beaneaters, 5/30/1894