Watch Bryce Harper Hit for Cycle in Trending Video From 5th Inning of Phillies vs. Mets

It took Bryce Harper all of five innings to hit for the cycle during Saturday's game against the New York Mets.

After launching a home-run in the first inning and collecting the double and single during an eight-run third inning, he stepped to the plate needing just a triple. When he hit one into the gap, it was clear he had just one thing on his mind.

Harper took off for third as the ball was thrown into the infield and may have caught something of a break when the Mets threw home instead of to third. The end result was a two-run triple and the cycle:

The triple made it 13-1 in Philadelphia's advantage, and that double-digit lead allowed Harper to be more aggressive than he perhaps would have been on the bases in a closer game.

That he notched a cycle against the Mets of all teams shouldn't come as much of a surprise given his track record against the National League East rivals. His 41 long balls against New York remain the most of all active players in the league:

Harper needed something like Saturday's performance as well.

After all, he tallied just one hit in his previous seven games and saw his batting average drop from .267 to .248 in a short amount of time. But Friday's day off must have helped him reset, and he responded with a cycle in his first four at-bats of Saturday's contest.

There is no doubting Harper is one of the best players of his generation despite the recent struggles with a resume that includes a World Series title, two MVPs, a Rookie of the Year, four Silver Sluggers and eight All-Star selections.

And now he add the cycle to his list of accomplishments.