Both Bryce Harper and Hunter Strickland have been suspended by Major League Baseball for their roles in Monday's brawl at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
WASHINGTON — Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was suspended four games and San Francisco Giants reliever Hunter Strickland was suspended six games for their roles in Monday’s brawl at AT&T Park, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday.
Harper charged Strickland after being hit with the first pitch of the at-bat, throwing his helmet. Both players exchanged punches to the head before teammates joined the fracas.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MAY 29: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals and Hunter Strickland #60 of the San Francisco Giants throw punches at one another after Strickland hit Harper with a pitch in the top of the eighth inning at AT&T Park on May 29, 2017 in San Francisco, California.
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MAY 29: Jeff Samardzija #29 of the San Francisco Giants goes after Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals after Harper charged the mound from being hit by a pitch from Hunter Strickland #60 in the top of the eighth inning at AT&T Park on May 29, 2017 in San Francisco, California. Giants Michael Morse #38 jumps in the middle as National’s Daniel Murphy #20 tries to pull Harper away.
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper (34) hits San Francisco Giants’ Hunter Strickland in the face after being hit with a pitch in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 29, 2017, in San Francisco.
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
AP Photo/Ben Margot
Washington Nationals’ Daniel Murphy (20) tries to restrain teammate Bryce Harper (34) after Harper charged San Francisco Giants’ Hunter Strickland after being hit with a pitch in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 29, 2017, in San Francisco.
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
AP Photo/Ben Margot
Washington Nationals’ Daniel Murphy (20) tries to restrain teammate Bryce Harper (34) after Harper charged San Francisco Giants’ Hunter Strickland after being hit with a pitch in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 29, 2017, in San Francisco.
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
AP Photo/Ben Margot
Washington Nationals and San Francisco Giants brawl in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 29, 2017, in San Francisco.
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
AP Photo/Ben Margot
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper, left, prepares to hit San Francisco Giants’ Hunter Strickland after being hit with a pitch in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 29, 2017, in San Francisco.
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
AP Photo/Ben Margot
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper (34) charges San Francisco Giants’ Hunter Strickland after being hit with a pitch in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 29, 2017, in San Francisco.
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
AP Photo/Ben Margot
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper, left, charges San Francisco Giants’ Hunter Strickland after being hit with a pitch in the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 29, 2017, in San Francisco.
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Both players also received undisclosed fines for their actions. Both are appealing their suspensions, meaning they are eligible to play Tuesday night.
No other players received suspensions for their actions.
MLB Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre’s explanation of the disciplinary decisions said that Strickland had intentionally hit “Harper with a pitch, inciting the bench-clearing incident and fighting” while Harper’s suspension came “for charging the mound, throwing his helmet and fighting.”
The two players’ bad blood stems from a pair of home runs Harper hit off Strickland in the 2014 playoffs, when the Giants went on to capture their third World Series championship in five years.
Washington led 2-0 with two outs in the eighth inning and none on when Strickland drilled Harper on the first pitch — a 98 mph fastball. Harper immediately pointed his bat at Strickland, yelled at him and took off.
Harper flung his helmet and they began throwing punches, with the 6-foot-4 Strickland clocking Harper in the face. They then broke apart for a moment before squaring off again. Harper punched Strickland in the head as the benches and bullpens emptied.
