PHILADELPHIA --
Phillies fans had been imagining this moment since Harper signed a 13-year, $330 million contract on March 1.\n\nIt lived up to everybody’s imagination.\n\nHarper had been 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in his career against Braves left-hander Jesse Biddle, who grew up in Philadelphia. Harper caught Biddle when they were teammates for USA Baseball’s Under 18 Team in 2009. They played against each other in Class A.\n\nBut this time, Harper finally got Biddle. He turned on a 1-1 fastball.\n\n“His bat speed is just lightning,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said.\n\nThe ball left Harper’s bat at 113.7 mph and traveled a projected 465 feet -- his second longest -- according to Statcast. It tied for the Phillies’ second-longest homer since 2015, and the second-longest homer at Citizens Bank Park since '15.
“It was really cool,” Harper said. “Definitely one of the cooler homers I've ever hit. Just the fan base, just the stadium, the electricity we had in this place, it all came together.”\n\n
\n\nARE YOU KIDDING ME WITH THAT TODAY?!?! #Barreldelphia
— Rhys Hoskins (@rhyshoskins) March 30, 2019
[Harper](https://www.mlb.com/cut4/the-phanatic-wore-bryce-harper-cleats) touched home plate and bashed arms with Hoskins before turning around to shake his hand one more time. He slapped hands with
The roar from the crowd continued.\n\nFinally, Harper emerged.\n\nHe pumped his arms in the air. He yelled, “Let’s … go!” with “something else in between it.”\n\nHarper used Nick Williams’ bat for the homer. Maybe he will bring it into Sunday night’s series finale. The Phillies are 2-0 for the first time since 2011, when they won a franchise-record 102 games.\n\n“Yeah, it won't be the last time I grab one of my player's bats or anything like that,” Harper said. “I'm known for that, going around, 'Hey, I'll use that one.' If it feels good, I'll use it. I've actually swung that model before, so it's very similar to mine, just a Chandler, so a different company.”
Franco and Realmuto also [homered on Saturday](https://www.mlb.com/phillies/news/j-t-realmuto-first-phillies-homer). The Phillies have hit a franchise-record six homers in their first two games.\n\nThe offense looks like it could be a force with Harper in the middle of it.\n\n“The Realmuto homer, the Franky homer, Rhys' \\[grand slam\\] the other day, this place is electrifying, and our clubhouse, our dugout, everybody's pulling for each other,” Harper said. “What a great moment for everybody.”
**BE LIKE MAIK** \nFranco is the sixth player in Phillies history to homer in each of the team’s first two games of the season. Chuck Klein (1931), Danny Litwhiler (‘43), Mike Schmidt (‘88 and ‘89), Scott Rolen (2000) and Ryan Howard (‘10) are the others. Elias Sports Bureau said no Phillies player has done that hitting eighth or ninth in the lineup.\n\nFranco hit 22 home runs last year. Del Crandall set a big league record with 22 homers out of the eight hole with the 1955 Milwaukee Braves. Spud Davis (‘30) and Andy Seminick (‘48) hold the Phillies’ record with 13 homers out of the eight hole.\n\nFranco also joined Klein (1931) as the only two Phillies (since at least '08) to record three-RBI games in each of the first two games of the season.
**STAT OF THE DAY** \nThink this Phillies offense isn’t better? It is taking advantage of its scoring opportunities, unlike last season. The Phillies are 6-for-11 with three home runs and 11 RBIs following a walk.