Bryce Harper not in lineup today for Harrisburg, just a "day off"

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

July 20, 2011, 7:53am

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Nationals No. 1 prospect Bryce Harper is not in the starting lineup for the Harrisburg Senators' afternoon game today at home versus Bowie. Harper was a late game defensive replacement in left field, and walked in his only plate appearance. Harper has been scuffling recently at the plate, going 1-for-25 since July 6. He is batting .171 for the Senators, with no extra-base hits. He has six hits in his first 35 at-bats over 10 games at the Double-A level. Harper has struck out eight times and walked three times during this recent slump. Team spokesman reports the lineup change as "just a day off. We play six games in the next four days and (manager) Tony Beasley will get everyone a breather one game at a time." But it is obvious the young phenom could use some time to rest after a whirlwind 16 days since his call up from Single-A Hagerstown, where he slammed 14 homers and 46 RBI to begin the season. Harper had flown out to Phoenix for the XM Futures Game during the major league All-Star break and returned last week to play six games in a row. During that span, Harper went 1-for-21. The Senators play at Bowie next week, Monday through Wednesday at Baysox Stadium in Bowie, Md.