Goal! Harper slides soccer-style after HR in London
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LONDON -- Bryce Harper thought long and hard about how he was going to celebrate his home runs in the London Series. Right at the heart of the country that loves football -- known as soccer in the U.S. -- there was only one right answer.
He did it like a soccer player.
¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Harper yelled with his chest out, as he slid on his knees back to the Phillies' dugout with his arms extended before clapping them together after hitting a fourth-inning dinger in the Phillies' 7-2 win over the Mets in the first game of the 2024 London Series on Saturday. It was reminiscent of how soccer players celebrate after scoring goals.
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¡°I love soccer! I love soccer!¡± Harper shouted as he high-fived his teammates in the dugout. His excitement could not be contained.
Harper celebrated his ¡°goal,¡± in this case a home run into right field of London Stadium -- home to West Ham United FC -- that tied the score at 1.
¡°I love the moment, I love the opportunity,¡± Harper said after the game. ¡°I was able to do it. I was just wondering if I would actually do it when I crossed home plate because I had been talking about it. I think my only fear was if I got caught on the turf with my knees. But it didn¡¯t happen.¡±
The Phillies fed off the Harpers' energy, turning the fourth into a six-run inning highlighted by Whit Merrifield's three-run homer.
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