In a terrifying moment, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper took a pitch to the face while batting against the Cardinals.
The Phillies got a massive scare on Wednesday as a pitch hit Bryce Harper directly on his cheek.
The video is as scary as they come.
Scary scene as Bryce Harper takes a HBP to the face but leaves the game under his own power pic.twitter.com/CCcVq1AMF0
— Barstool Baseball (@StoolBaseball) April 29, 2021
This is just not where a baseball should land. It left Harper bloody and bruised. If that’s the worst of the damage, he’s very lucky.
It caught him flush in the face. He walked off. Cut near the nose. pic.twitter.com/bmFvHFFjOm
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) April 29, 2021
Fortunately, Harper was able to walk off on his own power, but he had to be replaced by a pinch-runner.
Génesis Cabrera hits Bryce Harper in the face and Didi Gregorius in the ribs with his first two pitches
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 29, 2021
Benches get warned and Joe Girardi gets ejected, yelling "throw the ball over the fucking plate!" on his way out. Cardinals manager Mike Shildt yelled back pic.twitter.com/PLMmBQhvCt
Bryce Harper and Didi Gregorius paid for Genesis Cabrera’s lack of control
Unsurprisingly, manager Joe Girardi was furious, especially when a pitch hit a second Phillies batter. Didi Gregorius took a ball to the back on the next at-bat.
Girardi was ejected for complaining about it, but that’s an ejection any MLB manager would take any day and twice on Sunday. The MLB is probably better off letting the manager say his piece without tossing him in that situation. Girardi wasn’t in the wrong.
It didn’t look like Genesis Cabrera was hitting batters on purpose, but his lack of control put Philadelphia players in danger. Harper could have been previously injured. Gregorius will be feeling that one for a while.
The game between the Cardinals and Phillies was close in the sixth inning when it all went down.
Cabrera was replaced on the mound after giving up a single to Andrew McCutchen, scoring a run to put Philadelphia up 4-3. It was a disastrous appearance for the pitcher.
The Phillies need a victory to get back to .500 and hold their place atop the NL East standings. The Cardinals came into the game sitting second in the NL Central behind the Brewers.