Kyle Harrison would have done it a third time.
The Giants’ second-year left-hander stepped up his attack after delivering consecutive high, tight pitches to Bryce Harper during the Phillies’ 6-1 road win on Wednesday, sparking a bench-emptying brawl and shoving.
“I would have had another at-bat. Why didn’t he take another at-bat?” Harrison said. “We’re trying to get guys out and I thought he could get one. Maybe he was a little bit too far inside, but I just tried to focus on the baseball and execute and that’s it.”
On Wednesday, Harrison swept Harper off home plate with consecutive pitches, the second of which hit Harper’s bat, sparking outrage in the Bay Area.
With the Phillies leading 2-0 and two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, with runners on second and third, Harrison threw a 94 mph fastball slightly inside on a 1-2 count, and Harper backed away to avoid being hit.
Harper then glared at Harrison and yelled something at him.
On the next pitch, Harrison threw a 93 mph fastball even further inside, and this time Harper’s helmet came off as he stepped back.
The pitch actually hit the knob of Harper’s bat and became a foul ball.
Harper dropped his bat and then slowly turned toward Harrison while home plate umpire DJ Rayburn stood in front of Harper to prevent any commotion.
The left-handed slugger said multiple times after the game that Harrison “wasn’t intentional” enough to hit him, and that his reaction stemmed from being hit in the face by a Cardinals pitcher during a 2021 game.
“I don’t want to get punched in the face again. That’s it. I don’t want to get punched in the face again,” Harper said. “Getting punched in the face is not fun.”
He added: “I wasn’t that upset. I just threw the ball over home plate.”
The Phillies bench then emptied, followed by the Giants bench.
A mild shoving ensued, and Phillies announcer Tom McCarthy said Giants hitting coach and former Phillies star Pat Burrell may have started it.
The at-bat eventually resumed, and Harrison escaped the crisis with an induced grounder.
The Phillies got the last laugh, avoiding a three-game losing streak by allowing 12 hits and four runs in five innings against Harrison.
Harrison had no regrets about the situation.
“Maybe I missed it a little bit, but I was trying to get the out,” Harrison said. “He’s a good player, so I’ve got to hit the ball in a spot that’s going to make him unhappy.”
