by Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was furious Sunday and appeared to direct his anger at Colorado Rockies pitcher Jake Bird in the seventh inning of their matchup.
The incident occurred after the top of the seventh inning had been completed. Bird seemed to direct his celebration toward the Phillies dugout, and Harper disagreed. The outfielder charged into the Rockies’ dugout and chaos ensued. Harper had to be held back when the banks cleared. He would later be kicked out.
Colorado won the game 4-0, and Harper explained his actions afterward.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Colorado Rockies reliever Jake Bird claps his glove and looks toward the Philadelphia Phillies dugout after retiring Bryson Stott from the Phillies to end the top of the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday May 14, 2023 in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
«I get excited,» he said, via MLB.com. «I understand getting excited about an inning and things like that. But once you do it on one team or you do it on you and the other team, that’s when I have a problem with it.»
«You guys saw my reaction. He wasn’t very happy. He just did what he did and after that he flew off and went into the dugout.»
Harper said that he appreciated that his team had his back at the time. He was held off by Rockies catcher Elias Diaz and then Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan.
PHILLIES’ BRYCE HARPER, MANAGER ROB THOMSON SENT OUT AFTER BENCHES CLEAR AGAINST ROCKIES
Philadelphia Phillies’ Bryce Harper, center right, is restrained, from left, by Colorado Rockies’ Ryan McMahon, first base umpire Ben May and Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan after reacting to A taunt from Rockies reliever Jake Bird in the seventh inning of a baseball game on Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
«After that point, I went out just to go,» Harper added. «JT (Realmuto) was right behind me. Taijuan (Walker), same thing. I thank my teammates for coming with me and doing that. It was the heat of the moment. Once we got out, (Bird) just flew into the bench and left. No one really saw him after he did what he did.»
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said a guy yelling in the dugout «shouldn’t happen.»
Bird was also ejected from the game.
«Sometimes I get a little emotional on the mound,» Bird said, adding that his comments were not directed at anyone in particular. «It’s a good team. It was a great moment. I got a little emotional. They took offense.»
«He’s a great player,» Bird said of Harper. «He plays with emotion. I love that he plays with emotion. He’s a player I look up to.»
Philadelphia Phillies third base coach Dusty Wathan, left, shoves Phillies’ Bryce Harper, center, after Harper reacted to a taunt by Colorado Rockies reliever Jake Bird that emptied both benches after the top of the seventh inning of a baseball game on Sunday, May 14. , 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Colorado improved to 17-24 with the win. Philadelphia fell to 20-20.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
