SAN DIEGO -- Bryce Harper snapped a 14-game homerless streak Thursday night when he launched a two-run homer to the opposite field off Padres right-hander Erik Johnson in the third inning of the Nationals' 8-5 win at Petco Park.
According to Statcast™, the ball came off Harper's bat at 99 mph and traveled 371 feet away, bouncing off a sign that reads "Hit It Here" on facing of the Western Metal Supply Co. Building first deck. It was Harper's first home run since May 28 and his 14th of the season.
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"It was nice to see him hit one to the opposite field," manager Dusty Baker said. "That means you're staying on the ball and that means you're letting your natural ability come through versus forcing it. Sometimes you force things and that makes it worse and then it compounds. Then it was nice to see him get a blooper because they had been catching all of his balls."
Harper has been showing signs of breaking out of his slump lately. He is batting .317 in his last 11 games. He has reached base in 18 consecutive games, although he has just five extra-base hits during that span.
"I've felt great for the past month," Harper said. "Wherever I hit the ball opposite side of the field or pull side, if I can put good swings on the ball, I'll be just fine."
Harper has especially performed well against the Padres in his career. He went 2-for-4 Thursday night and is a career .450 hitter (27-for-60) with six homers and 23 RBIs against San Diego.
"I had heard that this is where Bryce kind of took off last year, that's what the guys on the team were telling me," Baker said. "So maybe he needed some San Diego and some Cali air."