Major League Baseball

Bryce Harper sets teen playoff record

Published Oct. 12, 2012 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper became the first teenager to hit a triple in a postseason game — and the second-youngest player to homer.

The 19-year-old Harper tripled to drive in a run in the first inning, then hit a solo shot leading off the third, both against St. Louis Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright in Game 5 of the NL Division Series on Friday night. His big night was overshadowed by the Nationals' ninth-inning collapse, as they surrendered four in the inning to lose 9-7 and get eliminated.

The only player younger than Harper, who turns 20 on Monday, to hit a home run in the postseason is Andruw Jones, who was about 19-1/2 when he had two for the Atlanta Braves in 1996. The previous youngest with a triple was 20-year-old Justin Upton for Arizona in 2007.

Harper entered Friday in a 1-for-18 slump in these playoffs.