The Washington Nationals pitcher Jonathan Papelbon grabbed teammate Bryce Harper's throat in the dugout on Sunday as the team struggled against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Nationals went on to lose to the Phillies 12-5, and after the game, Papelbon appeared calm as he talked to reporters.
"I grew up with brothers, he grew up with brothers, I view him as a brother," Papelbon said. "And sometimes in this game, there's a lot of testosterone and things spill over."
Papelbon: “Bryce and I are good — we will be good. We’ll get better from this.”
The altercation began in the eighth inning after Harper, the right fielder, was out on a fly ball. When he returned to the dugout, Papelbon grabbed his throat and shoved him into a bench before teammates pulled them apart.
At that point, the game was tied. The Nationals went on to give up eight runs in the ninth inning.
Matt Williams on sending Papelbon out to pitch after he literally tried to strangle Bryce Harper: “It was a tied game. He’s our closer.”
