Teenage phenom Bryce Harper has made quite an impression on Major League Baseball this season and last night was no different.
The 19-year-old outfielder had his first multi-homerun game of his career and also was ejected for the first time when he spiked his helmet after hitting into a double play in the ninth inning. While the Washington Nationals snapped a five game losing streak, Harper was all the focus after the game.
''I shouldn't have done it, but I don't like hitting into double plays,'' said Harper to the Associated Press. ''I just need to stop getting mad and live with it. I just need to grow up in that mentality a little bit and try not to bash stuff in. I've always done it my whole life. Things need to change."
Harper's helmet bounced near the first base umpire, who decided it was worthy of an ejection. The play was similar to what Toronto third baseman Brett Lawrie did earlier in the season, when he threw his helmet down in front of home plate after what he felt was a bad call. Lawrie was suspended for four games due to the fact that his helmet actually struck the umpire.
The young star has had a few issues this season controlling his emotions, including an incident earlier this year when he swung his bat against the side of a wall near the dugout and bounced back, causing him to cut his head, which needed stitches.
Harper also had some attitude issues while playing in the minors, including an incident when he taunted a pitcher by blowing a kiss to him after hitting a home run.
Although the Nationals have been struggling lately, they still sit atop the National League East and are poised to make their first franchise playoff appearance.
Harper's home runs came in the fourth and fifth innings, the first being a two-run shot while the other was a solo home run that traveled over 400 feet. The rookie has 14 on the year.
Michael Morse also added two RBI's and catcher Kurt Suzuki hit his first home run since joining the Nationals from the Oakland A's.
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