Harper on Phillies: 'Hopefully they don't throw batteries'

PHILADELPHIA (USA TODAY) — Starter Cole Hamels hopes he hasn't created a monster, and beginning today at Citizens Bank Park, his Philadelphia Phillies might discover if they've spawned a rivalry with the Washington Nationals.
"Yeah, I accidentally stirred the pot," Hamels told USA TODAY Sports. "It was unintentional. But that's just the way it happens sometimes. It wasn't like they weren't going to try to beat me anyways."
Hamels hit Nationals rookie outfielder Bryce Harper in the back with a 93-mph fastball in the last game he faced them. Hamels, who revealed that he hit Harper intentionally, was fined and suspended for five games. Hamels is scheduled to pitch against the Nationals on Wednesday.
Harper, 19, seems to know, and relish, what might await him in Philly.
"Hopefully I get a couple boos," he said. "I'm excited to get up there and play. Hopefully they don't throw any batteries at me."
This time, Hamels vows, no one will be purposely plunked.
"It was more of a thing where I wanted to see what the kid was made of," Hamels said. "Then it was like, 'OK, he showed me.' He showed me more than I could ever possibly have known. Obviously it kind of backfired in what I was intending."
The Phillies wound up breaking their seven-game losing streak to the Nationals, but Harper got his revenge by stealing home in the first inning. The Nationals (24-17) come to Philadelphia (21-21) 3½ games ahead of the last-place Phillies, trying to end their five-year reign in the National League East.
"You've got to respect those guys. They are going to be a really good team," Hamels said. "They've got really good players. Rivalries develop when the talent is there and there are good players, not because of hate and animosity.
"And they have some really good players."
The Nationals franchise, which hasn't had a winning season since 2003 when it was known as the Montreal Expos, know it's a sign of respect that the Phillies are taking them seriously in a wide-open NL East.
"There's always tension between both teams," Nationals starter Edwin Jackson said. "You go out and let the actions speak on the field."
Says Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., "People like to make more about things than it really is and at times less than it really is. We had a rivalry with the (New York) Mets, but that was just because it was a geographical issue, not any more than that. We've had a long rivalry with the Atlanta Braves.
"This is just a case where everyone in the division has a better team and is beating each other up. That's what this is all about."