Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos channel Coach Prime ahead of Phillies' NLDS Game 3 win
It's personal for Philadelphia Phillies stars Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos.
Both Harper and Castellanos arrived to Citizens Bank Park Wednesday ahead of the Phillies' dominant Game 3 win over the Atlanta Braves in gear honoring Colorado football coach Deion Sanders. Harper opted for a t-shirt that featured a collage of Sanders, while Castellanos wore a Prime Colorado hoodie.
The message was clear.
Harper previously committed a game-ending, base-running error in the Braves' Game 2 victory. FOX Sports reported that Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia was mocking Harper's blunder in Atlanta's locker room following the win, saying "atta-boy, Harper!" Word appeared to get back to the Phillies based off their pregame drip.
If there is any doubt about Harper's pregame message, just look at his three-run homer in the third inning to put the Phillies up 4-1 over the Braves. While Harper was rounding second base during his home run trot, Harper stared down Arcia. He did it again following his home run in the fifth inning to take a 7-1 lead over the Braves.
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Philadelphia's social media team joined in on the fun, writing on X: "Atta-boy, Harper."
The Phillies won the game, 10-2. Castellanos also homered two separate times, once in the third inning and once in the eight inning, while Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh also went yard once apiece.
Castellanos said his Colorado gear just happened to arrive this week, adding it was a "hot item."
Harper and Castellanos' feat made the Phillies just the fourth team in MLB postseason history to have multiple players hit multiple homers in the same game, according to ESPN stats, joining the Los Angeles Dodgers (2021), San Diego Padres (2020) and New York Yankees (1932).
Contributing: Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY Sports