Harper's balanced game leads to another Nationals win, 4-1 victory

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper's quest to become a complete baseball player took another positive step forward with a game that mixed timely at-bats with pinpoint accuracy courtesy a rifle of an arm from right field.

Harper contributed both offensively and defensively in the Nationals' 4-1 series-clinching win over the Phillies. He had a RBI single, a RBI groundout and an outfield assist to lift the Nationals to their 19th win in their last 24 games.

On defense, Harper gloved what appeared to be a possible single off the bat of Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp. Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera had singled in the at-bat prior to Rupp. When Herrera tried to go first to second on the "hit" to right, Harper threw him out with a laser beam caught and tagged out by Ian Desmond.

"I wasn't sure if I had a chance at him, but I just tried to get in there as quick as I can," Harper said. "Ian (Desmond's) on the bag. I was trying to get that force out, and it ended up being a big play for us.

"I was just trying to come up firing, really just trying to make a play on him."

As a catcher at the College of Southern Nevada, Harper loved to back-pick runners at first base and throw out runners trying to get to second base. As an outfielder just learning his craft, he relishes using his arm to negate a runner's speed and shorten a rally attempt.

"I take a lot of pride in my defense," Harper said. "Being able to get out there every day and shag and do the things I need to do. Taking those reps. Getting some pointers from Denard (Span) and J-Dub (Werth) and (first base coach and former major league outfielder Tony) Tarasco, of course. Just really trying to be the best right fielder that I can.

"If I'm not hitting, I don't want them to get a hit either. Just things like that, just little things I try to get to keep in my head to keep me going out there and keep me in the game. I want to make some plays and help this team win."

Harper said his ability to make plays in the outfield took practice. In the past, he has slammed into outfield walls and been injured. He did it in two separate seasons. But in 2015, he has learned from those experiences and values staying on the field.

On one play Sunday, he played a ball off the wall instead of crashing into it to try to make a circus catch.

"The first time I play outfield was right when I got drafted," Harper said. "So five years in, trying to play at the big league level, I'm just trying to learn on the go. Really just trying to take it by stride every single day, and I can get better out there every single day no matter what.

"So just trying to get my reads in BP as best I can and really taking pride in that and not slacking off and really doing the things I need to do out there to get better every day."

On offense, Harper put the Nationals on the board to tie the game in the fourth with a groundout to short. Then in the seventh, Harper blooped a single down the left field line against Phillies left-handed specialist Jake Diekman.

"Just trying not to do too much. Just trying to get a ball up," Harper said. "He throws hard and he's got a pretty dang good slider. So it's very tough for a lefty at-bat. Just trying to really do the things I need to do to knock one over the third baseman's head or get something through the hole and get that run in. Trying to get that extra run is huge and then if you're trying to get one (run) get two. We're excited. (Ryan Zimmerman) came through right there and got me up and went all four."

Harper has been on an unbelievable surge the last three weeks, and Sunday provided a great example of just how far his offense and defense have advanced since he arrived in the big leagues in 2012.

"The secret of success for him or any other player is two out base hits with guys in scoring position, getting that guy in from third base with less than two out, that's what will make a fantastic season," said Nationals manager Matt Williams.

"He accomplished both of those today," Williams continued on Harper. "He's playing great defense. He'll hit balls over the fence, but that won't be the measure of his success. It'll be those little things that he does within the course of a game that allows us to get an extra run or cut a run down, things of that nature."

And right before he got on the charter with his team, Harper was asked about the big crowds for the five-game homestand.

The Nationals drew well over 35,000 for each game of the Phillies series, including at least 41,044 the last two games. Does Harper enjoy playing in sold-out games?

"I thrive on big crowds," Harper said. "Of course, I love playing in front of a lot of people. If it's a little crowd, I hate playing, I mean truly. I'm not trying to be rude. Little crowd, I can't stand it."