Fans packed Nationals Park for the All-Star Home Run Derby hoping for some heroics from hometown hero Bryce Harper.
He didn’t disappoint.
Sporting a star-spangled bandana and a special cherry blossom bat, the Washington Nationals outfielder put on a stellar display of power hitting in his first two rounds, easily defeating both Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy without even using his full four minutes.
While Harper dazzled with distance, Kyle Schwarber countered with quantity.
PHOTOS: 2018 MLB Home Run Derby
The Chicago Cubs outfielder powered past Alex Bregman in the first round and hit the most homers in any round of Monday’s competition in the semifinals, belting 21 bombs to edge Rhys Hoskins.
In the final, the fifth-seeded Schwarber went first, blasting six of his 17 home runs in regulation beyond the 400-foot mark. He added another in bonus time to set the bar for Harper at 18.
n what could be his final season in a Nationals uniform – he’s a free agent at the end of the season – Harper made a grand entrance to Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” as the 43,698 fans in attendance chanted, “Let’s Go Harper!”
However, he went a full 30 seconds before hitting his first home run – and was only halfway to Schwarber’s total when he called his final timeout with 80 seconds remaining.
However, his flair for the dramatic was evident in the final minute as he homered on eight consecutive swings – with the final one, No. 18, bringing him into tie Schwarber.
Given an extra 30 seconds for topping the 440-foot mark, Harper needed only two swings to break the tie and claim the title.
Final
(2) Harper 19
(5) Schwarber 18
Semifinals
(5) Schwarber 21
(8) Hoskins 20
(2) Harper 13
(3) Muncy 12
First round
(8) Hoskins 17
(1) Aguilar 12
(5) Schwarber 16
(4) Bregman 15
(3) Muncy 17
(6) Baez 16
(2) Harper 13
(7) Freeman 12