- The Washington Times - Thursday, September 26, 2019

After the Washington Nationals beat the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday for the fourth time in three days, former National-turned-local villain Bryce Harper said some Washington fans’ heckling crossed a line by the end of the game.

“They were fine all game, talking about myself and things like that,” Harper said, according to The Associated Press. “I get it everywhere I go. That’s nothing new. But the last two innings, it’s just not right. It’s not right.”

Harper himself did not directly accuse fans of calling out his family, but alluded to it by saying, “I’ve got 60,000 fans up in Philly that appreciate me as a player, appreciate me as an individual and my family.”

But Harper’s wife Kayla wrote on social media Thursday morning that Nationals fans mentioned Harper’s infant son as part of their heckling.

“Phillies fans might boo him but they don’t bring his 4 week old son into it. Classless,” Kayla Harper wrote.

There’s been no love lost between the Nationals and Harper, who signed with the Phillies on a record 13-year, $330 million contract last March. Harper has been booed and heckled in every appearance he’s made at Nationals Park this year.

The Nationals eliminated the Phillies from playoff contention on Tuesday while clinching a wild card berth for themselves. They’ll play each other for the final time this season Thursday at 4 p.m.

• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.

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