'But we won': Harper, Phillies scoff at Arcia staredown

ATLANTA -- Orlando Arcia loudly cackled and openly mocked Bryce Harper in the Braves' clubhouse following Harper’s baserunning mistake that ended Game 2 of the 2023 National League Division Series at Truist Park.

Arcia repeatedly laughed and yelled, “Atta boy, Harper!”

It got back to Harper, who famously stared down the Braves shortstop after each of his two home runs in Game 3 at Citizens Bank Park. Harper’s glares made for fantastic theater and an iconic photograph that has been printed on countless T-shirts -- and hung inside the Phillies' clubhouse at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.

Arcia reminded everybody of that moment during the Phillies’ 3-2 victory on Wednesday night at Truist Park. Arcia stared down Harper as he rounded first base after homering in the fourth inning to give Atlanta a 2-0 lead, although -- unlike Harper after Game 3 -- Arcia declined to admit it afterward.

“I was just enjoying my home run,” Arcia said via an interpreter.

What was he looking at then?

“I was just enjoying my home run,” he repeated.

Harper said he didn’t notice Arcia look at him.

"Nah, I didn't,” Harper said. “I don't care. I couldn't care less. I already did it."

The Phillies-Braves rivalry is alive and well, although Harper preferred to instead talk about a badly needed victory. It extended the Phils’ lead over Atlanta in the NL East to seven games with 36 to play.

If the Phillies (74-52) play .500 the rest of the season, they would finish 92-70, meaning the Braves (67-59) would need to go 25-11 (.694) just to tie.

“Big win,” Harper said. “That’s what we’ve got to do to win games like that. You've got to play baseball. Situational stuff like that. Getting ‘em over, getting ‘em in, letting our bullpen close it out. I thought Noles [Aaron Nola] threw the crap out of it today. So, just a really good hard-fought win right there.”

Nola had runners on first and second with one out in the sixth inning, when Jeff Hoffman entered and induced an inning-ending double play. Matt Strahm pitched a scoreless seventh. Orion Kerkering pitched his best in weeks, tossing a scoreless eighth.

“You guys know, the last month isn’t what it’s been like [in the past],” Kerkering said, referring to the bullpen’s struggles. “I think it was a good confidence boost for us, the team as a whole -- and me a little bit, too.”

The Phillies scored twice in the sixth inning to tie the game at 2-2. They manufactured both runs. Edmundo Sosa singled and Johan Rojas doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. Kyle Schwarber grounded out to score Sosa. Trea Turner’s sacrifice fly scored Rojas.

The Phillies took the lead in the eighth inning following Weston Wilson’s leadoff double off the right-field wall.

Wilson continues to have good at-bats, earning himself more playing time and opportunities like he had in the eighth against Atlanta reliever Joe Jiménez. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he might start Wilson on Thursday night against right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach as a reward.

Following his double, Wilson advanced to third on pinch-hitter Bryson Stott’s flyout to center field. He then scored on Brandon Marsh’s sacrifice fly to left.

“That’s how you win playoff games,” Thomson said.

Phillies closer Carlos Estévez walked Arcia to start the ninth. He had runners on second and third with two outs when Whit Merrifield hit a ground ball up the first-base line.

The ball had some spin on it. Harper moved in front of it and blocked the ball before scrambling to the bag to end the game.

"Yeah, I didn't want to get Buckner'd for sure,” Harper said, referencing Bill Buckner's infamous misplay. “I think that was the big thing, just trying to smother it the best I could. I think, obviously, Whit wants to get a big hit right there in that situation.”

Afterward, Arcia continued to deflect questions about his home run trot on Wednesday. He said Game 3 of the NLDS wasn’t on his mind at all.

“Last year was last year,” he said. “I feel like we’ve already turned the page and we’re focused on this year.”

His glance suggested otherwise, of course.

“I heard about that,” Thomson said. “Yeah, that’s gamesmanship. But we won.”