Harper's 16th homer another to admire in Nationals' 2-1 win over the Phillies

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper makes the incredible look commonplace.

The back-to-back National League player of the week hit another home run Friday, No. 16 on the year, to open the scoring in a 2-1 win over the Phillies.

He leads the National League in home runs and is one behind Nelson Cruz of Seattle (17) for the most homers in the majors.

In the month of May alone, Harper has hit 11 homers with 24 RBIs.

Shortstop Ian Desmond was asked what he thought of Harper's run this month.

"I don't look at it as like a roll," Desmond said. "Obviously, the numbers are really good. This is what this kid, this man is capable of doing. He's not a kid anymore. It's a kind of a hard habit to break.

"He's an unbelievable baseball player. He's got all the instincts and he has got a great swing. He has a tremendous passion to play the game. This is something that we can expect to see for a long time. Obviously not the torrid pace he's on right now. But he's special and there's no doubt about that."

And this home run was a line shot that got out of Nats Park down the left field line in a hurry. Was there any secret to his approach in that at-bat?

"See it and hit it. Plain and simple," Harper said. "Just trying to see and hit the ball and wasn't really thinking too much. (Sean O'Sullivan would) get 1-2 and throw the heater over. He was a little sneaky in the first three at-bats with those three guys. I was guessing heater and I guessed right and connected."

But this home run Friday was amazing because of the raw power and strength Harper showed to move the ball to where he did from where O'Sullivan placed the ball.

"The ball didn't tail to the line at all," said Nationals manager Matt Williams. "I rarely see a ball that is hit to the off side with power like that that doesn't tail. He stayed inside. I think the ball is up and in. I really don't know how he hit the ball that way with that authority with where the pitch was. He's seeing the ball good. He's continuing to help us. I don't know how he hit that one though."

As a hitter himself, Williams is appreciating how Harper is taking full advantage of each at-bat. After the home run, Harper grounded out and was intentionally walked.

"I like where he's at. He's taking his at-bats seriously," Williams said.

"But he really helps his teammates out when he can be patient enough and walk and get on base for them. Once he's on base, he has multiple talents. As we've seen, he can steal second base. He can score from first on a ball in the gap. It just helps our team."

Harper isn't admiring the homers as much as making sure they count. He doesn't worry how far they go, as long as they clear the fence.

"If it's 335 feet or 480 feet I could care less, they all count the same," Harper said. "I wasn't sure if it was going out or not but it snuck over and tied it up in the second inning. I think being able to go up there and have some good at-bats and do things we need to do as a team. It's rubbing off on everybody and I think we're having a lot of fun."