Daily News | Phillies’ Bryce Harper: ‘It’s been a grind’ since returning from thumb injury
ST. LOUIS — Bryce Harper laid off back-to-back 102 mph fastballs with two strikes, then took a down-and-in curveball to work a six-pitch walk Friday in the Phillies’ epic ninth inning.But Harper went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Game 1 after closing the regular season on a 10-for-51 skid. He had a total of two extra-base hits in his last 74 plate appearances entering Game 2 on Saturday night at Busch Stadium.
Harper’s struggles raise questions about his health, especially the torn elbow ligament that has prevented him from throwing since the middle of April but hasn’t affected him at the plate. It’s possible he will need offseason surgery to repair the ligament, although he said recently that he isn’t sure if it will be necessary.
“I’ve kind of just said each day is a new day,” Harper said. “Try and go in there and have the best at-bats I can and have the opportunity to be in the lineup every single day and try to take advantage of what I do in the batter’s box and not miss pitches over the plate like we’ve talked about numerous times.
Harper feels most comfortable in the No. 3 spot in the lineup. But Thomson moved him down to the cleanup spot for Games 1 and 2 to create more separation between him and leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies’ other big lefty bat.Ranger Suárez was scheduled to start Game 3, if necessary, Sunday night, although Thomson said the Phillies would also discuss the possibility of using an opener.
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