4 Studs (& 1 Dud) From the Phillies' NLDS Game 3 Win Over the Braves

Stud: Bryce Harper

Alright, now let's get to the hitters.

Harper caught some flak for getting thrown out to end the game in Game 2, but that's just the way he plays. Harper plays the game aggressively and he plays to win. Sometimes that means he scores a run after blowing through a stop sign, and sometimes that means he gets thrown out on the bases. You take the good with the bad.

Well, we saw Harper at his best in Game 3. He quickly redeemed himself, leading the charge with a pair of homers and going 2-for-5 with 4 RBIs.

Harper got out in his first at-bat, but with the score tied at 1-1 in the third he launched a game-changing 3-run homer. The long ball gave Philadelphia the lead for good and effectively broke Atlanta's spirits.

For good measure, Harper added a solo blast in the fifth inning as well, becoming the first player in Phillies history to homer twice during a three-inning span in a playoff game.

Even better, Harper stared down Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia both times while rounding the bases, as Arcia had talked trash about him.

The lesson, as always, is to never give Harper bulletin board material, especially during the postseason.