4 hours earlier than first pitch, Rhys Hoskins had all of it found out.

“It is a good day to be a Phillie,” he mentioned. “Bryce is again. He’ll inject some power into the lineup. Clearly, he is a power and a presence. However that does not imply the sport we’re taking part in goes to vary. We’re simply hoping so as to add on to what we have got occurring.”

And that is simply what the Phillies did Friday evening.

Buoyed by the return of Bryce Harper two months and a day after he suffered a damaged left thumb, the Phillies saved on rolling with a 7-Four win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Residents Financial institution Park.

The win was the Phillies’ fifth in a row, pushing them to a season-high 16 video games over .500 and 50-26 since June 1. Solely the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers have performed higher ball since then.

Harper made a memorable re-entry into the Phillies’ lineup. The group of 30,546 stood and cheered as he strode in lime inexperienced spikes to the plate with the bases loaded and no outs within the first inning. He didn’t disappoint. Displaying the dramatic aptitude he usually has in his 4 seasons in Philadelphia, he stroked a two-run single to proper subject for the primary runs of the sport.

“I began laughing as a result of it was superior,” Harper mentioned of that first at-bat. “I really like these forms of moments. I really like these forms of alternatives, love jam-packed crowds and with the ability to play in entrance of 40,000 individuals. That is what it is all about. 

“It is a lot enjoyable to go on the market and have a crew that is in (a playoff race). Now we have a chance to play within the playoffs and go deep within the playoffs. It is enjoyable to have the ability to have the help of the followers.

“I simply began laughing as a result of it is so cool to have the ability to be in that second, that state of affairs. My teammates set me up for an ideal alternative there and I used to be in a position to come by way of.”

Harper mentioned he watched each sport on TV whereas he was out. The Phillies went 32-20 in his absence. They maintain the second NL wild-card place with 36 video games to go.

“It has been enjoyable to observe and much more enjoyable to be on the market and be round them,” Harper mentioned. “We have to maintain being nice as a crew. I am simply making an attempt to return in right here and never screw it up.”

The Phillies saved bringing it after Harper’s two-run single within the first inning. They chased Pittsburgh starter Bryse Wilson after an inning and led, 6-0, after two. 

Lefty Bailey Falter, pressed into responsibility when Zack Wheeler went on the injured checklist Thursday, allowed three runs on a pair of homers over six innings and picked up his second win on the homestand. He was known as as much as face the Mets in a doubleheader final weekend and pitched six innings of one-run ball. Falter has been recalled from the minors seven instances this season. He has delivered a high quality begin in his final three big-league begins, two towards Pittsburgh.

“Regardless of the crew wants, I am right here for,” he mentioned.

He’ll get one other begin subsequent week in Arizona.

The Pirates have misplaced 16 of their final 20 video games and are 47-78. Solely Washington has a worse file within the NL. The Phils have gained all 5 video games towards the Pirates this season.

Whereas Harper was on the IL, Kyle Schwarber locked down the leadoff spot along with his energy bat and Alec Bohm hit his manner into the No. three spot within the batting order.

Supervisor Rob Thomson did not mess with what’s good. Schwarber batted leadoff, Hoskins hit second and Bohm stayed within the three spot, which had beforehand been occupied by Harper, who batted cleanup.

Thomson’s pondering was such: Schwarber, Harper and No. 7 hitter Bryson Stott all hit left-handed.

“Having the lefties 1-4-7 spreads ’em out so you have got two righties in between all of them,” Thomson mentioned. “So choose your poison which lefty (reliever) you wish to use on Schwarb or Harp after which you are going to must take down a few fairly good righties.”

Thomson’s lineup development appeared virtually storybook when Harper went to the plate with the bases full within the first inning and the group roaring.

“My father as soon as mentioned, a very brilliant government is aware of take credit score for stuff that simply falls in his lap,” Thomson mentioned with amusing. “In order that’s why I put him within the four-hole.

“No. It was nice. He got here by way of and we jumped on these guys.”

Along with the lime inexperienced, Phanatic-inspired spikes, the trendy Harper wore a strand of white beads round his neck.

A two-run single and a victory.

The beads are staying.

“I believed they had been cool,” Harper mentioned. “Apple Pay received me.”

Subscribe to Phillies Discuss: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Artwork19 | Watch on YouTube