Bryce Harper honors 'Coach Prime' Deion Sanders and has intense staredown after huge home run in Phi

Bryce Harper began his day by giving a shoutout to Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders with a National League Division Series tied at 1-1.

The brash Philadelphia Phillies slugger ended it by engaging in an intense staredown with the Atlanta Braves as Harper's team took a commanding 2-1 series lead.

It was Harper versus Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia on Wednesday.

Harper won the battle and now Philly is one win away from a return trip to the NL Championship Series.

“(Harper’s) one of the best in the world for a reason,” the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber said. “When we’re in these moments, this is baseball at its best for him. When it’s at his best for him, anything can happen.”

Arcia clearly got under Harper's skin by sarcastically saying “Ha-ha, attaboy, Harper,” after Atlanta's thrilling Game 2 win.

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One of the best hitters in baseball and a two-time NL MVP responded by wearing a "Coach Prime" shirt, while teammate Nick. Castellanos fashioned a “Prime” hoodie.

Throw in the fact that Sanders used to play baseball for Atlanta and it was on in Game 3.

“They looked at me and they were like, ‘What are you going to do?’ " said Harper, referring to his teammates after Arcia's diss.

Harper answered with two home runs, two cold staredowns and four RBIs while going 2-for-5 in the Phillies' 10-2 beatdown at raucous Citizens Bank Park.

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As Harper rounded the bases he made sure that Arcia knew who had just hit another longball for a team that was about to retake the series lead.

"I mean, I stared right at him,” Harper said.

Arcia responded that he thought what was said in the clubhouse remained in the clubhouse.

“He can look wherever he wants to look,” Arcia said through a translator. “When you’re in the clubhouse, I was under the impression you could say whatever you wanted. He wasn’t supposed to hear it."

Harper was so in command in Game 3 that he knew he was blurring the lines by honoring "Coach Prime" but the Phillies slugger didn't care.

Winners win and Philly dominated the Braves in Game 3.

“He (Sanders) actually played for Atlanta,” Harper said. “Maybe I should turn around and go take this shirt off. But then I was just like, man, I’m a big fan of Prime and what he’s doing to Colorado.”

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