The Washington Nationals' postseason hopes came to an end yesterday when the New York Mets clinched the National League East division championship. And just one day later, Washington topped a frustrating campaign with a dugout brawl between star outfielder Bryce Harper and closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Cameras caught Papelbon jawing at Harper after Harper didn't fully run through a fly out. Papelbon, who is currently appealing a three-game suspension from a beaning incident last week, continued to jaw at Harper until the two finally came to blows.
Jonathan Papelbon attacking Bryce Harper? Jonathan Papelbon attacking Bryce Harper. pic.twitter.com/T2qof97Ymh— Jake Russell (@_JakeRussell) September 27, 2015
Another camera caught a better angle of Papelbon reaching for Harper's throat.
Alternate angle of Harper/Papelbon fight is even crazier (via @JeffSkversky): http://t.co/aZ4Uf0bggr pic.twitter.com/uBwVYWtdAt— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 27, 2015
Things were just as interesting after the game. Manager Matt Williams followed with a dry postgame interview, and was apparently so chill with the fight that he allowed Papelbon go out to pitch the ninth inning.
Full exchange between a reporter and Williams regarding Papelbon pitching the 9th. pic.twitter.com/mbgDfnBGdP— Andrew Simon (@AndrewSimonMLB) September 27, 2015
As for Papelbon, he seemed to take responsibility for the incident while still trying to maintain he was right for scolding Harper about not running out the pop fly.
Papelbon: "I'm in the wrong there." Wouldn't specify what exactly took issue with, but said its important to "play the game the right way."— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes) September 27, 2015
Meanwhile, Harper, who has MVP-type numbers (just in case Papelbon is really concerned with his performance), seemed to brush the whole thing off.
Bryce Harper doesn't seem to think today's altercation with Jonathan Papelbon was a big deal. pic.twitter.com/38ck5oAOxW— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) September 27, 2015
Earlier this week, addressing the aforementioned beaning incident in which Papelbon struck Orioles batter Manny Machado, Harper told reporters he expected to be beaned out of retaliation.
Harper wasn't hit as he predicted, but maybe the indirect shot at Papelbon helped prime the pair for what happened today. After all, both Papelbon and Harper are known for being outspoken guys, so the fact that the two came to blows shouldn't be all that surprising, especially in the wake of the Nationals' collapse this season.
While leading the division for most of the first half of the season, the Nationals have fallen flat since Aug. 1, going 25-29 in that span and giving way for the Mets to run away with the division.