Seth Udinski, FISM News

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Philadelphia Phillies star outfielder Bryce Harper survived a harrowing scare on Wednesday night in the Phillies’ 5-3 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals.  In the 6th inning, Harper was up to bat against Cardinals pitcher Genesis Cabrera when he was hit in the face by a 97 MPH fastball.  When this happens in baseball, many experts assume it to be intentional, but judging by Cabrera’s reaction, it did not appear to be so.  In a credit to Harper’s toughness, he got up on his own power and walked off the field.

Harper posted a brief video on Instagram after the game reassuring the fans that he was feeling well.  He said,

Everything feels good.  Everything came back good — CT, all that kind of stuff. So, face is still there. We’re all good. See you guys soon.

Cabrera apologized to Harper after the game and affirmed that his actions were not intentional.  The fact that the Phillies avoided a serious brawl, did not lose their star slugger and franchise leader to a serious injury, and still won the game is very good news for a franchise loaded with talent that has underachieved in the last three seasons.

Despite the feelings of goodwill between the parties involved, Phillies manager Joe Girardi was livid.  He was ejected from the game after a heated argument with the umpires for not ejecting Cabrera, who, immediately after hitting Bryce Harper, also plunked shortstop Didi Gregorious.  After the game, Girardi defended his players and said Cabrera was the one who should have been ejected from the game.

[Cabrera] should be thrown out.  I understand why they give the warnings, but if a guy hits a guy in the face and a guy in the ribs, with two pitches, he’s gotta go, right?  If you’re really protecting players, he’s got to go. Just for the safety of the players.

The Phillies and Cardinals wrapped up their four-game series on Thursday afternoon, with the Cardinals taking the final game in extra innings, 4-3.  In the 9th inning, Phillies closer Hector Neris drilled Cardinals’ third baseman Nolan Arenado with 94 MPH fastball, in what many believe was a retaliation move.  Bryce Harper was not in the starting lineup for Thursday’s game.