Phillies star Bryce Harper's cycle punctuates horrid night for Mets

First baseman Bryce Harper put his name in the Philadelphia Phillies record books on Saturday.

Harper lined a 2-1 fastball from Mets pitcher Tobias Myers into the left-center gap in the bottom of the fifth inning for a two-run triple. That triple gave Harper the cycle, the 11th in Phillies history and the first since utility man Weston Wilson hit for the cycle on August 15, 2024.

Harper did not need much time to put himself into the history books. He belted a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning against Mets starter Freddy Peralta to give the Phillies an early 1-0 lead. Harper then doubled against Peralta in the bottom of the third, coming around to score on an error by second baseman Marcus Semien. He then singled against reliever Cionel Perez in his second plate appearance of the inning.

Cycle could help Bryce Harper get on track for Phillies

Harper's fifth-inning triple made him the second-fastest player to hit for the cycle in Phillies history. First baseman/left fielder Gregg Jefferies finished his cycle with no outs in the bottom of the fifth inning on August 25, 1995, lining a double to left against Dodgers pitcher John Cummings.

The 2026 season has not been up to Harper's usual standards. He entered Saturday with a .248/.360/.477 batting line, hitting 15 homers and 12 doubles in his 311 plate appearances. Harper's 126 OPS+ is his lowest mark since 2019, his first season in Philadelphia. While the Phillies have fought their way back into a postseason berth, having Harper heat up will only help their chances come October.