Bryce Harper played a pivotal role in the Philadelphia Phillies’ recent series-clinching victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The hard-fought contest saw closer Jordan Romano surrender runs while the home team held the lead, igniting some criticism.
In recent remarks captured by Tim Kelly of On Pattison, Harper was asked about Romano’s situation. His response was a supportive, “Keep head up, keep going.” Harper also emphasized that the pitcher has delivered quality innings for the team overall, which is why he’s entrusted with his role.
During the third game, Romano allowed the Dodgers to close the scoring gap. Following his outing, his struggles from the mound contributed to the visitors taking a 7-6 lead in the seventh inning, after the Phillies had held a 4-6 advantage with him pitching.
This marks the second instance where Romano has caused concern for Phillies fans. In the series opener against the Dodgers, he appeared somewhat erratic and conceded a home run that brought the opposition within striking distance on a tight scoreboard.
Romano also addressed his performance
To his credit, Romano acknowledged his need for improvement, stating he would review game footage to analyze his pitches. He admitted, “I don’t know what is going on right now,” regarding the dip in velocity compared to his time in Toronto.
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Manager Rob Thomson also commented on Romano, suggesting, “I don’t know if it’s kind of a dead arm issue or what.” He assured that the team would investigate the decline in his velocity, indicating a slight level of concern within the organization.