Phillies', Nationals' Twitter accounts trade jabs in Bryce Harper's first game back in Washington

Thomas Schlarp

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Phillies', Nationals' Twitter accounts trade jabs in Bryce Harper's first game back in Washington image

Fans and non-fans alike may have tuned in to watch the drama of Bryce Harper taking his first swings against his former team unfold on the field, but the real show took place on the internet between the Nationals' and Phillies' Twitter accounts.

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Washington's social media fired the opening salvos following Harper's strikeout during his first at-bat with an Ariana Grande reference, and then immediately capitalized on Harper's second strikeout of the night in his next at-bat, referencing "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" — a direct shot at Harper's new Philadelphia walk-up song.

But if we have learned anything from Philadelphia's own Rocky Balboa, it's to never count out a Philadelphia athlete.

STEELE: Harper the hero to new fans in old park

In Harper's third at-bat, he singled to left field, scoring Jean Segura, and took second on the throw to the plate. A big wave to his dugout was followed by a big tweet from Phillies social media, tweeting a lyric from . . . Ariana Grande.

The knockout punch came two innings later when Harper destroyed a pitch 458 feet into the second deck of the right-field stands for a two-run homer, complete with a spectacular bat flip toward the Nationals' dugout. The boos of the first inning were replaced by a loud "We got Bryce" chant from Phillies fans in Nationals Park.

Looks like the Phillies' Twitter account had the last laugh:

Thomas Schlarp