All is not well with the Washington Nationals at the moment. After being eliminated from the playoffs on Saturday, teammates Jonathan Papelbon and Bryce Harper fought each other in the dugout.
ESPN noted that the altercation happened on Sunday after Harper flied out in the eighth inning. As he returned to the dugout he and Papelbon exchanged words and the closer grabbed Harper’s throat and pushed him back against the wall. Coaches and teammates quickly ran over and separated the two.
Papelbon was then sent into the game in the bottom of the inning against the Philadelphia Phillies and the downward spiral continued.
Andres Blanco hit a go-ahead two-run homer off of him and then his old team was able to score eight times in route to a 12-5 victory over the Nationals.
When asked after the game about the scuffle both Papelbon and Harper downplayed the situation saying it was just like "brothers fighting" and they "moved on."
As we previously reported, Paps was suspended three games by the league for intentionally throwing a pitch at the head of Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado last week. However, he appealed that suspension and was able to play in the series over the weekend.
Jonathan Papelbon goes after Bryce Harper in the Nationals dugout. via: @MLB pic.twitter.com/w1xF8JL75P
— FOX Sports Live (@FOXSportsLive) September 27, 2015
For more sports news follow Michelle on Twitter @PhilaMichelle
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