3 Studs (and 2 Duds) From Phillies Game 1 Win Over Marlins

Dud Bryce Harper

Through the end of four innings, eight different Phillies were on the board with hits. The lone holdout was Bryce Harper, who took until the eighth to get on base. Because it was clear early that he wasn't about to get on with a walk last night.

Harper looked uncharacteristically lost at the plate, and honestly it felt like he was just trying to do too much.

The Marlins' game plan was clearly to pitch around Bryce. They wanted nothing to do with him, and it was clear early.

Those southpaw sweepers the Marlins' staff was throwing were definitely deadly, but a lot of those pitches to Bryce were just so far off that he's gotta take them.

The two-strike swings were especially egregious, with Harper being sat down on some really ugly looks.

Harper certainly redeemed himself some by ignoring Dusty Wathan to score in the bottom of the eighth, but taking his performance as a whole (and compared to what we usually expect from him), this was a dud night for him.