Harper, Schwarber, Castellanos Power Phillies Past Diamondbacks 5–3 in Game 1 of NLCS

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper hits a RBI-single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the third inning in Game 1 of the baseball NL Championship Series in Philadelphia on Oct. 16, 2023. Matt Rourke/AP Photo

PHILADELPHIA—Bryce Harper celebrated his 31st birthday with a bang—a 420-foot homer on the first pitch he saw in the NL Championship Series.

That merited a special tribute. As he rounded third base, the Philadelphia Phillies slugger concocted a celebration on the fly: Harper held up three fingers on his left hand and one on his right and pretended to blow them out like candles on a cake as he crossed the plate.