Phillies beat Arizona 5-3, Harper celebrates birthday with a home run

Bryce Harper was quick to celebrate his 31 birthday with a smash into the stands of the first pitch he saw to power the Philadelphia Phillies past the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series on Monday night.

Harper held up three fingers on his left hand and one on his right and pretended to blow them as birthday candles as he crossed the plate. Harper, who also walked, scored twice and knocked in two runs, hit his 10th homer in two postseasons with the Phillies.

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Zack Wheeler managed to strike out eight in six innings to help the defending NL champions win their seventh Game 1 of the last two postseasons. Arizona was stuck with its first loss of the postseason after ripping off five straight wins against the Brewers and Dodgers.