The Phillies’ NLDS celebration was almost spoiled — and not just by the Braves.
Bryce Harper looked to be an extreme pain after a collision with Braves slugger Matt Olson following an awkward play at first base to end the eighth inning Thursday night.
Harper, who has only played 36 games at first base this season, hesitated on a ground ball to his right as he was unsure whether he should go to the bag or go for the ball.
He ultimately decided to cover the bag and got there in time to get the throw from second baseman Bryson Stott.
However, Harper kept his right arm out and Olson ran right through it. He immediately grabbed at the arm as he was hugged by relief pitcher Gregory Soto.
Harper missed the first half of the season after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last Nov. 23, only adding to the concern.
Harper, who went 1-for-2 with two walks after two home runs in Game 3, had been switched from the outfield to first base to protect the arm this season and fill in for the injured Rhys Hoskins.
The wild cheers at Citizens Bank Park were muffled as concern spread throughout the ballpark, even as the Phillies were now three outs away from the NLCS.
Harper went down the tunnel, presumably to be checked out by team trainers, but returned to the field for the top of the ninth.
“I’m good. It just hit my funny bone. I’m fine,” Harper said after the game.
The Phillies — protecting a 3-1 lead — survived a scare in the ninth with the Braves putting runners on the corners with no outs following a Marcell Ozuna walk and Sean Murphy single.
But Matt Strahm shut the door and recorded three straight outs after taking over for Soto.
Harper joined in on the beer-soaked celebration with the rest of his teammates.
“Winning teams find ways to win at all costs, right?” Harper said afterward. “That’s a really, really good team over there. I’ve got so much respect for the Atlanta Braves as an organization, the way they go about it, the way they play. They’ve got a great lineup one through nine. And we just beat a really, really good team.”
Now, the Phillies take on the Diamondbacks in the NLCS with Game 1 in Philadelphia on Monday night.