Bryce Harper Steals Home: Nationals Phenom Scores On Wild Play Against Phillies (VIDEO)

Washington Nationals' baserunner Bryce Harper steals home as Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz applies a late tag during first inning of their baseball game at Nationals Park, Sunday, May 6, 2012, in Washington. Harper was on third base went he scored to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)

WASHINGTON -- Washington Nationals rookie Bryce Harper stole home in the bottom of the first inning against Philadelphia on Sunday night.

The 19-year-old Harper added to his already growing list of accomplishments with his daring dash.

Harper came up with two outs in the first and Philadelphia lefty Cole Hamels plunked him in the small of the back. Harper quickly shrugged off the sting, going from first to third on Jayson Werth's single to left.

When Hamels made a pickoff throw to first, Harper broke for home and slid in under the tag.

It was Harper's first stolen base in his eight-game major league career.

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Comments

[GeorgeGee]

12:14 AM on 05/08/2012

Talk about a 5 tool player. Man, this kid has got it all in spades.

[ECB]

05:38 PM on 05/07/2012

The kid has "skills".

[independent32955-2]

02:45 PM on 05/07/2012

This is stupid...in baseball, this WILL happen. Harper had the last laugh...he stole home on a simple pickoff play to 1B. That hurt Cole, a lot more than Cole hurt Harper.

[madcityy]

12:41 PM on 05/07/2012

maybe the other teams can bounty hunt him...........it seems ok in baseballl................

[nikki717]

08:40 AM on 05/07/2012

He is putting a little fun back into the game for the Nats fans here in D.C......WhoooHooo!!

[ThomasPaine1776]

02:26 AM on 05/07/2012

He gets hit. On purpose, according to a post-game interview of Cole Hamels.

The thing to do, if you want to get back at the pitcher is to steal on the first pitch. Right? Okay, if you're REALLY feeling like you wanna get back at that pitcher, you steal 3rd. But you better be safe.

But stealing HOME to get back at the pitcher? That's the greatest play I've ever HEARD of.

This guy is seriously UN-BELIEVEABLE.

Un- believable.

If I was a reporter, I'd just walk up to Cole Hamels and just be honest and tell him, straight up:

"Bryce Harper humiliated you today. HU-MIL-iated you. You hit HIM, in an attempt to humiliate HIM, and then he humiliates YOU...with and AWESOME steal of home...on YOUR slow a$$ pick to first. It wasn't even CLOSE! He HUMLIATED you, dude. Seriously. You just got HUMILIATED by a 19 year old KID! What have you got to SAY about that? Never mind. There's nothing TO say. You just got humiliated. It's that simple. No one wants to hear what you've go to say. Just zip it, and hope this gets forgotten someday. But I doubt it."

[UB LawStudent]

09:34 AM on 05/07/2012

He'd probably just shrug and go back to his million dollar mansion with double birds to the world.
Regardless...that was an AWESOME @ss play!!

[Nishu]

01:03 AM on 05/07/2012

Bryce Harpers first steal in MLB is a steal home! Wohoo!! http://liveoncampus.com/wire/show/3375613

[NevadaLib]

12:55 AM on 05/07/2012

I actually hated Harper until this play. I'm warming up to the idea of him in the bigs now. It's obvious he's gonna be a name for years to come, but I don't like arrogant players. If he plays oldschool ball like this, i'll be a fan.

[ThomasPaine1776]

02:34 AM on 05/07/2012

Just start being a fan now.

Look. I'm a pitcher ( I just played today, actually) and i've NEVER liked hitting batters. Teammates have told me to on occasion, but I don't. Ya know why? Cause it's a cheap shot. He's up there, totally defenseless. Not only that, but it's a runner, and I give up enough runs as it is.

So Cole Hamels thinks he's gonna put this guy in his place with a shot to the back? Really?

Hey, Cole, how about you just go up and TELL him, you know, with WORDS. English WORDS.

Hitting a guy cause he plays baseball better than anyone on YOUR over-rated team? Jealousy. Cheap shot. Cole Hamels was in the club-house after the game talking about 'playing the game right" and all that. HE'S the one not playing the game right.

Stealing home is a really rare thing. Usually called out. This is the greatest play I've ever seen. (I'm 48 and I've been watching baseball My whole life)

I check Harper's stats every day now. What a gamer. He's like Pete Rose, but with TALENT!

[NevadaLib]

04:24 PM on 05/08/2012

I may reserve rose comparisons for when he hits for high average a few seasons in a row. His power is sure to come, but its gonna be fun to watch a guy who plays every part of the game well come into his own. Haha I was a pitcher myself, never liked plunking guys but reaalllllllllllly love watching pros do it in a certain tradition (not the way Hamels did it). Like, Nolan Ryan getting a dude to uncrowd the plate or nailing a dude who took him deep. Hamels is just a punk

[jayquintana]

02:50 AM on 05/07/2012

I feel the same way. The kid's really growing on me. It's early, but it looks like he can be one of the great ones.

[jl4141]

11:38 PM on 05/06/2012

Nice piece of hustle there, kid, and good payback for getting plunked.

[Dasher2]

11:07 PM on 05/06/2012

Great hustle, looks like he is playing the game right.