Mike Trout & Bryce Harper Both Hit First Inning HRs In a Rare Matchup

Last night two of the Major's brightest stars; Mike Trout and Bryce Harper (still don't know if I used ; correctly) played only their 2nd series against one another in their careers. 

Being on opposite coasts, and in different leagues, baseball fans don't get to see these two play against each other often. Plus the Angels are irrelevant so most people don't even get to see Trout play. I feel like I've seen Mike Trout play against the Sox, highlights and the All Star Game. It's a boring and stale narrative, but is true, he really is being wasted with the Angels.

The first Trout-Harper matchup was a three game series in D.C. way back in April of the 2014 season. (Patriots have won 2 Super Bowls since then, NBD) Baseball fans have been waiting a while to see these two go head to head. Since their last game against each other both Trout and Harper have at least one league MVP. (Harper 2015, Trout 2014 & 2016)

Last night the first game between the two phenoms in over 3 years did not disappoint. The Nationals won 4-3 thanks to a 4-4 night by Bryce, but what got everybody talking was the first inning. 

When Bryce Harper and Mike Trout try to outdo one another, we all win pic.twitter.com/b5b8kmWIj9

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 19, 2017

Bryce Harper hit his 24th HR of the year in the first inning, to CF over Mike Trout, I only wish it was hit a little worse so maybe we could've had a play at the wall with Mike Trout trying to rob Harper of a longball. That would be an awesome moment.

Then in the bottom of the first, not to be outdone Trout took one deep to left-center.

What does suck however is that this brief two game series is in the middle of the week, with little to no hype. I know the Angels are struggling to hover around .500 but it's still the two biggest names in baseball. A little more buzz around this wouldn't kill ya, MLB! It's insane how poor of a job the league has done to market the new wave of talent (even though it's not new with these guys anymore, both are in their 6th season which blows my mind). This matchup should have been on national TV or something.

Luckily for baseball fans, we won't have to wait another three years for these two to play against each other as the Angels are headed to the nation's capital in August.