Phillies’ Harper homers twice in Triple-A rehab game

By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Phillies slugger Bryce Harper hit two home runs in his first game for Philadelphia’s Triple-A team as part of his rehabilitation assignment from a broken left thumb. Harper was the designated hitter Tuesday night and hit second in the lineup for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs against Gwinnett. He hit the fifth pitch of his first at-bat against Atlanta Braves prospect Jared Shuster high over the right-center field wall. The two-time NL MVP added a three-run homer in the eighth inning. Harper hasn’t played for the Phillies since he broke his left thumb on June 25. He is expected to play in Lehigh Valley through Saturday and possibly return to the Philadelphia lineup on Monday when the Phillies begin a series at Arizona.