Apr 6, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) heads for second base during the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images Bob Kupbens
Following a monster series in San Francisco last July, Bryce Harper declared that "when I'm going well, I'm one of the best in baseball."
Monday night — with the Phillies back at Oracle Park — Harper looked like one of the game's elite players, going 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBIs, as the Phillies overcame a poor start from Andrew Painter to win 6-4. With the win, the Phillies improve to 6-4.
The Giants got the scoring started in the bottom of the third inning, as Matt Chapman followed consecutive hits by Willy Adames and Luis Arráez with a ball into triple's alley in right-center field. Justin Crawford wasn't able to get to it, and it didn't take a Phillies hop over the wall for an automatic double, allowing Chapman to get to third base with a two-run triple:
Three runs on the board in the third 👌 pic.twitter.com/WHpfsuQl18
Before the inning was out, Heliot Ramos flared a ball into center field that allowed Chapman to score, giving the Giants a 3-0 lead.
The Giants loaded the bases against Painter in the bottom of the fourth inning, and Arráez crushed a ball to deep right field that looked like it could clear the bases. Instead, Adolis García tracked down the ball. Harrison Bader did score, but it was an impressive play by the Phillies' new right fielder to limit the damage nonetheless:
Luis Arraez hits a LOUD sac fly 😅 pic.twitter.com/Y0FLHozdui
That proved to be it for Painter, who allowed nine hits and four runs over four innings, while striking out just one batter. Painter only walked one, but he threw his fair share of balls, with just 53 of his 90 pitches going for strikes. The organization's long-time top prospect will look to regroup this weekend at Citizens Bank Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
To their credit, the Phillies were able to finally get to San Francisco starter Adrian Houser in the top of the fifth inning. Crawford followed up a J.T. Realmuto leadoff single with a double into left field. Realmuto was ultimately plated on a Trea Turner RBI groundout, while Harper crushed a double off the right-field wall to score Crawford:
Bryce Harper cuts the Phillies’ deficit to 2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/iF7lOvj2OL
Kyle Schwarber — who had walked — and Harper wound up being stranded in scoring position as Alec Bohm grounded out to the pitcher and Bryson Stott flew out to deep center field.
In the seventh inning, though, the Phillies hung four runs on the trio of Houser, Ryan Borucki and Caleb Kilian, with two runs coming on a Harper single, and one apiece on a Bohm double and Brandon Marsh sacrifice fly. The Phillies left the frame with a 6-4 lead they wouldn't relinquish:
Bryce Harper is having himself a NIGHT in San Francisco!
(via @aokstott) pic.twitter.com/mKXhFFJQe3
For as much as Painter struggled, Tim Mayza, Jonathan Bowlan, José Alvarado, Brad Keller and Jhoan Duran combined to pitch five scoreless innings to lock down a victory.
The Phillies and Giants will continue their series Tuesday evening at 9:45 ET with a great matchup of lefties, as Cristopher Sánchez will square off with former AL Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray. The Phillies last won a series in San Francisco in May of 2013. They'll have a chance to change that Tuesday.
