The Braves walked Bryce Harper the first three times he came to the plate Thursday night. It’s not like the Braves staff is wild tonight, as they issued just one other walk. Avoiding Harper backfired, however, as he scored all three times as the Nationals are crushing the Braves 10-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
Harper is not a perfect hitter. With a .331 BA, he’s going to make an out more often than not if they pitch to him. His batting eye is good enough that he’ll walk if you don’t pitch to him. If teams keep walking him, he’ll simply keep scoring runs. He’s up to 103 walks and 95 runs scored.
Update: Harper is up to four walks and four runs in the game.
His final line was 0 4 0 1.
That must be pretty rare. Can I look that up in your database?
Scooter » Harper is the only person I could find with no at bats, at least four runs, at least one RBI, and at least four walks. If I allow for an at bat in the game, then Derrek Lee was the last person on 6/10/2002 in an extra inning game for the Marlins. He went three for four with four walks, four runs, and three RBI. The closest line to Harper belongs to Brett Butler on 4/12/1990, playing in a nine inning blow out for the Giants. He went one for one with five walks, four runs scored, and one RBI. Joe Morgan, on 4/25/1977 had a one for one with four walks, four runs scored, and two RBI. Others who made the list are Barry Bonds (twice), Rob Deer, Ron Gant, Rance Mulliniks, and Len Randle.
Not only 4 walks–zero swings, too!
Thanks for looking all that up.
Scooter » I suspect this winter I should add a search for games function.