The Phillies were not going to let the Braves lose quietly.
During Philadelphia’s postgame celebration after clinching the NLDS with a 3-1 Game 4 win over Atlanta, rookie Orion Kerkering was seen sporting a light blue T-shirt with the words “Atta boy Harper” on the front of it, clearly taking a shot at the Braves’ Orlando Arcia.
The Atlanta shortstop uttered those words, as first reported by Fox Sports, after Game 2 when Bryce Harper was doubled off first base to end that game and give the Braves a win.
Neverthless, in Game 3, Harper slugged two long home runs and stared down Arcia both times in a Phillies rout.
After that game, Arcia spoke about his words.
“He can look wherever he wants,” Arcia said through an interpreter, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I can’t control where he looks. He can look wherever he wants to look. … He wasn’t supposed to hear it. I feel like whatever is said in the clubhouse stays in the clubhouse.”
The Phillies indeed heard that quote too, and on the back of Kerkering’s shirt, Arcia’s more recent “He wasn’t supposed to hear it” was emblazoned on the back.
According to The Athletic, the Phillies’ jubilant locker room celebration also included chants of “Atta boy, Harper.”
It’s the second straight year the Phillies have knocked the favored Braves in the NLDS, both years in four games.
Last year, the Braves came in with 101 wins, this season with 104 victories, but still could not get past the Phillies.
“Pretty much just told them they have nothing to hang their heads about. It stinks what just happened,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said, according to The Associated Press.
Harper finished the series with a .368 average and an absurd 1.380 OPS while Arcia hit just .154.
The Phillies will next take on the Diamondbacks in the NLCS as they look for a second consecutive NL pennant.
—With Post wires
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