Phillies star Bryce Harper ejected, launches helmet into stands after charging at umpire Ángel Hernández

Bryce Harper lit up umpire Ángel Hernández after he was called on a checked swing Thursday. (AP/Matt Rourke) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

One lucky fan at Citizens Bank Park secured an incredible souvenir Thursday, thanks to an irate Bryce Harper.

In the third inning of the Philadelphia Phillies’ game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Harper was called out after he swung on a ball that was way down in the dirt. Harper checked his swing and tried to stop — on replay, it looked like he did so successfully — but third-base umpire Ángel Hernández said otherwise.

Hernández called Harper out, which set the Phillies star off. Harper charged at Hernández and screamed at him all the way up the third-base line, and multiple Phillies coaches had to pull him back even after he was thrown out of the game.

Harper finally let it go and walked back to the dugout, receiving a huge standing ovation from the Philadelphia crowd as he did. That’s when he launched his helmet up into the stands behind the dugout.

While the replay made it seem like Harper stopped well short of a swing, Hernández thought he went. As that’s not reviewable, and Harper’s reaction was undoubtedly an ejectable offense, his night was over.

The game was tied 1-1 when Harper was ejected. Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run in the first inning to put the Phillies up early, and Jared Triolo hit an RBI double for Pittsburgh to tie things up in the third.

The Phillies entered Thursday’s game on a seven-game winning streak, which included a four-game series sweep of the New York Mets and a pair of wins over the Pirates. Philadelphia has already clinched a playoff spot, though the Atlanta Braves clinched the NL East. The Pirates have already been eliminated from contention and will miss the playoffs for an eighth straight season.

This post will be updated with more information.