Bryce Harper hit a homer amid profane chants from Nationals fans. Brad Mills / Getty ImagesJune 25, 2026 10:36 pm EDT Updated WASHINGTON — With the Washington Nationals’ season sputtering, a horde of shirtless fans chanted a certain four-letter word followed by the name of the Philadelphia Phillies megastar Thursday night.Gus Varland left a thigh-high changeup over the plate to the first superstar who ever put on a Nationals jersey. Bryce Harper sent it the other way, into the seats, for a two-run homer. The blast created a two-run lead that became a five-run lead in an eventual 10-5 loss. As he rounded first base and again as he crossed home, Harper extended a finger — he swears it was his ring finger — toward the section that sent the chants his way.Unlike the two nights that came before this one, the ninth-inning collapse seemed certain. Even more so, as Harper stepped to the plate with his name after an expletive. Even more so, with Varland teetering on the mound. Even more so, with everything else that had followed over these last three days.
9TH INNING MAGIC! pic.twitter.com/CZIIRY50pK
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 26, 2026The Nationals’ season is in peril.On Tuesday, the Nationals led 5-0, which was then 8-6 when the Phillies were down to their last strike, and couldn’t close it.On Wednesday, they led 2-0, which became 4-3 with the Phillies down to their last strike, and they couldn’t close it.On Thursday? Same story. Their 5-0 lead dissipated. When the ninth inning began, it was a 5-5 game. The season is not lost. But the goodwill they earned during the first three months might be.
