Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper hit his 38th and 39th home runs of the season during Tuesday’s 4-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, tying Vladimir Guerrero for fourth place on the franchise single-season home runs list, per Baseball-Reference.com.
Harper started with a solo shot off of Phillies pitcher David Buchanan in the first inning, then drove in the Nationals’ second run with a third-inning single off of Buchanan.
Following a walk in his third at-bat, Harper hit a short two-run homer to left field in the eighth inning against Phillies reliever Adam Loewen.
Harper thus provided all four of the Nationals’ RBI in the victory, improving his team-high total to 90 for the year.
Already tied for fourth place with Guerrero’s 2002 campaign, Harper needs three more homers to match Guerrero’s 1999 season (42 homers) for third place on the single-season franchise homers list.
Guerrero also holds second place with 44 homers (2000), but Alfonso Soriano’s 46 home runs in 2006—his only season with the Nationals—are good for the all-time Nationals/Expos record.
Already a favorite for the MVP award despite his team’s late-season struggles, the 22-year-old Harper needs seven more home runs to match Soriano’s record.
He also needs just two more homers to pass Alex Rodriguez for fourth place on the list for most home runs before a player’s 23rd birthday, per Elias Sports Bureau (via ESPN Stats & Info).
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