Phillies hero Bryce Harper performs special candles celebration after hitting a home run on his 31th birthday as Philadelphia beat Diamondbacks 5-3 in Game 1 of the NLCS

Phillies star Bryce Harper performed a special birthday celebration during the Phillies’ 5-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series.

During the bottom of the first inning, Harper blasted a solo home run to right-center field off Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen to give Philadelphia an early two-run lead.

As he reached home plate, Harper held up three fingers on his left hand and one on his right and pretended to blow them out like candles on a cake. Monday’s game came on his 31st birthday.

Harper also walked, scored twice and knocked in two runs, hit his 10th homer in two postseasons with the Phillies. 

‘I’ve always wanted to play on my birthday,’ he said before the game. 

It’s not the first time Harper has drawn attention for a home run celebration during this year’s postseason after he was seen staring down Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia and making a throat-slashing gesture.

Harper blasted a ball to right-center field in the first inning of the win over the Diamondbacks

The Braves star had mocked Harper following game two of the National League Division Series. Arcia was heard repeatedly joking: ‘Ha-ha, atta-boy, Harper!’ 

Harper was not the only member of the Phillies to go long in the game, as Kyle Schwarber led the game off with a homer and Nick Castellanos also sent a ball over the wall.

Arizona was stuck with its first loss of the postseason after ripping off five straight wins against the Brewers and Dodgers. 

The Diamondbacks were simply the latest team to unravel under the red storm of 45,396 towel-waving, deliriously-cheering fans at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies never gave fans a reason to stop – or a chance for Arizona to catch its breath until it was too late. 

Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos also recorded home runs for the Phillies in the win