Bryce Harper sent the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series with a dramatic home run against the San Diego Padres in the eighth inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series.
The homer was Harper’s second of the series against the Padres and played a part in earning NLCS MVP honors. His opposite-field blast off Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez sent Citizens Bank Park into a frenzy and was accompanied by a call from play-by-play man Joe Davis that has been acclaimed by many throughout the industry.
“Hits one in the air, left-center field, back it goes,” Davis began. “Harper, the swing of his life!”
Davis, like Vin Scully did when Kirk Gibson hit his walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, then remained silent as the cheers of the crowd filled the broadcast while Harper rounded the bases.
BRYCE HARPER ARE YOU SERIOUS?! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/NKRTeNLJMl
— MLB (@MLB) October 23, 2022
"The swing of his life."@Joe_Davis is so good. Love that he's going to get to call the World Series this year. The perfect guy for the job. https://t.co/Xt6n9xTX4X
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 23, 2022
Great call by Joe Davis. Good for Bryce. https://t.co/2CKUGPuS3Z.
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) October 23, 2022
Very good call by Joe Davis. pic.twitter.com/roEmLIZujP
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) October 23, 2022
Joe Davis has even impressed hard-to-please Philly sports fans with his play-by-play throughout the postseason. https://t.co/rzPRTZELBl
— Rob Tornoe (@RobTornoe) October 23, 2022
The only person having a better October than the Phillies is @Joe_Davis. Congrats to both on an impressive NLCS.
— Wayne Randazzo (@WayneRandazzo) October 23, 2022
Harper became the sixth player in MLB history to hit a go-ahead home run in the postseason with his team trailing in the eighth inning or later in a potential clinch game.
“The opportunity to be able to be in that situation, I’m not there unless J.T. (Realmuto) gets that hit in that at-bat,” Harper said after the win. “I told K. Long before I walked up the steps, I said, ‘Let’s give them something to remember.’
Just that moment, just being able to do it at home, I didn’t want to get back on that flight back to San Diego. I just didn’t want to get on a 5.5-hour flight. I wanted to hang out at home and enjoy this at home with these fans and this organization and this fanbase.”
Davis calling the NLCS is part of replacing Joe Buck as the lead Fox baseball broadcaster. He additionally called the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium and next is due to work the World Series.
Bryce Harper made history against Dodgers
Well before the two-time MVP was putting his stamp on the postseason, Harper put together a historic performance during a May series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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