Bryce Harper loves “the moment,” so after a big home run he went for a dramatic statement that connected with both baseball fans and soccer supporters.

The Phillies slugger celebrated with a soccer slide by the Philadelphia dugout at London Stadium, home of the Premier League club West Ham.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane would be proud.

The solo shot sparked a sixth-run fourth inning and a 7-2 win Saturday in the opener of a two-game series.

“I didn’t tell any of my teammates because I wanted them all to be pretty surprised,” Harper said.

In another nod to British culture, he changed his walkup song to “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls.

Phillies starting pitcher Ranger Suárez, a soccer fan, called the celebration “iconic.” Manager Rob Thomson had no reaction in the dugout.

“Just don’t get hurt,” Thomson recalled thinking.

That crossed Harper’s mind, too.

“I kind of was just wondering if I was going to actually do it when I got across home plate,” he said. “My only fear was if I got caught on the turf with my knees, but it didn’t happen.”

Harper said he kept a lid on his plans, discussing it only on Saturday morning in the trainer’s room.

“I love the moment, love the opportunity and was able to do it,” said the 31-year-old, who is using special bats in London that feature the fuzzy green Phillie Phanatic.

Once in the dugout, Harper, who was mic’d up for the television broadcast of the game, yelled: “I love soccer! I love soccer!” while high-fiving teammates after the equalizer. His 15th home run of the season tied the score 1-1 during what became big inning against Sean Manaea.

“He’s a showman,” Thomson said. “He’s done it so often. You just sort of think ‘This is his time.’ The first three innings, it was just kind of blah. To get that home run and get the energy back in the dugout was huge.”

It wasn’t the only soccer reference on the day. Whit Merrifield’s three-run homer in the fourth inning extended the lead to 5-2, his third home run of the season.

“It felt good to drive some runs in. I felt like I left the whole Premier League on base this past couple months,” Merrifield said.

Braves calling up 2023 top pick Waldrep

The Atlanta Braves plan to bring up Hurston Waldrep, the team’s first-round pick in the 2023 draft, to make his major league debut Sunday against the Washington Nationals.

Waldrep will start the finale of the four-game series, pushing left-hander Max Fried back to the opener of a three-game set at Baltimore on Tuesday night.

Waldrep, a Thomasville, Georgia, native, was the No. 24 pick in last year’s draft after playing two seasons at Southern Mississippi and one at Florida. He is 3-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 10 starts between Double-A Mississippi and Triple-A Gwinnett this year.

The right-hander will be the fourth player selected in last year’s first round to make his big league debut, joining Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes (first overall), Texas outfielder Wyatt Langford (fourth) and Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (11th).

Briefly

Yankees >> Juan Soto remained out of the New York Yankees’ starting lineup Saturday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers because of left elbow inflammation.

Mets >> Pitcher Kodai Senga won’t make his season debut until after the All-Star break, manager Carlos Mendoza said. Senga has been sidelined by a capsule strain in his pitching shoulder. But he has started long-tossing.

Red Sox >> Outfielder Tyler O’Neill is going to rest for a couple days before the Red Sox decide on a possible return to the injured list for his ailing right knee.