Bryce Harper exits with facial injury as Phils top Cards

[April 29, 2021]  The visiting Philadelphia Phillies defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 5-3 Wednesday but saw right fielder Bryce Harper absorb a fastball to his face, although he appeared to avoid serious injury.

Harper exited the game in the sixth inning after Cardinals reliever Genesis Cabrera hit him with a 97 mph pitch. Harper was bloodied, but he left the field under his own power.

After the game, Harper posted on Instagram: "Everything feels good. Everything came back good -- CT (scan), all that kind of stuff. So, face is still there. We're all good. See you guys soon."

Cabrera hit Didi Gregorius in the back of his ribcage with his next pitch, which prompted the umpires to warn both teams. Phillies manager Joe Girardi protested vigorously and was ejected.

Phillies right-hander Brandon Kintzler (1-0) earned the victory in relief of Vince Velasquez, who allowed three runs on five hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings. Velasquez fanned five.

Kintzler tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings. Hector Neris, the sixth Phillies pitcher, retired the Cardinals in order in the ninth to earn his fifth save.

Brad Miller hit a two-run homer to pace the Philadelphia offense.

Cabrera (0-1), who didn't retire any of the three batters he faced in relief, took the loss. St. Louis' Johan Oviedo allowed three runs on three hits and two walks over five innings in his first start of the season. Oviedo fanned seven.

Tyler O'Neill had three hits, including a two-run homer, and a stolen base for the Cardinals. Paul Goldschmidt also homered, and Tommy Edman had two hits.

St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Tyler O'Neill (27) runs the bases after hitting a two run home run during the second inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Gregorius led off with a double into the right-center-field alley, and Andrew Knapp eventually drove him home with a single into left field.

The Cardinals answered in their half of the inning when Paul DeJong walked ahead of O'Neill's homer.

Goldschmidt made it 3-1 in the third inning with his blast over the center field wall. Miller tied the game 3-3 with his two-run homer in the fifth.

The Phillies took a 4-3 lead the hard way in the sixth inning. After the two hit batters, McCutchen delivered an RBI single, ending Cabrera's night.

Philadelphia pinch hitter Alec Bohm hit a leadoff double in the seventh. Miller walked, and one out later, Matt Joyce walked to load the bases.

After Ryan Helsley relieved Tyler Webb, Gregorius hit a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3.

--Field Level Media