Harper’s Home Return Should Hopefully Boost Struggling Philadelphia Phillies

The return of Bryce Harper to Citizens Bank Park should help give the Philadelphia Phillies life after a lackluster skid.

When public address announcer Dan Baker gets to Bryce Harper’s spot in the lineup, the booming voice will likely get drowned in cheers.

Expect Citizens Bank Park to start shaking Friday.

Harper made a miraculous return from Tommy John surgery on Nov. 23 and played the final two games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Philadelphia Phillies open a three-game series Friday against the Boston Red Sox.

After an 0-for-4 start on Tuesday, Harper went 3-for-3 with one double and two walks on Wednesday.

“I calmed myself down a little bit,” Harper told reporters. “Like I said yesterday, pitch selection was huge. My dad says when I’m walking, I’m doing pretty good. Just slowing it down, right? Yesterday, I sped up a little bit. Today, I was more under control. Any time you’re a little fired up at the beginning of the season or whatever it is, it’s going to happen.”

The Phillies arrived in Los Angeles with a 15-14 record. They left at 15-17.

But Harper is back and that’s huge in every way imaginable.

Despite the lack of game action, Harper’s leadership will be immense beginning with this series against the Red Sox.

“As a team as a whole, catch the ball, throw the ball, hit the ball and make the plays,” Harper said. “When you play the game the right way, ‘play it sound,’ as they say, you win a lot of games. There were some mistakes made (Wednesday). I think there were some mistakes made over the last couple of weeks that we just need to clean up, myself included. I need to play the game the right way. Just as a whole, I think we need to do better.”

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