Giants, Harper trade punches in brawl during Nationals’ 3-0 win.
SAN FRANCISCO — An enraged Bryce Harper charged the mound, fired his helmet and traded punches to the head with San Francisco reliever Hunter Strickland after getting hit by a fastball, setting off a wild brawl Monday during the Washington Nationals’ 3-0 win over the Giants.
Drilled in the right hip by a 98 mph heater on Strickland’s first pitch in the eighth inning with two outs, none on and Washington ahead 2-0, Harper didn’t hesitate. The slugger pointed his bat at Strickland, yelled at him and took off.
No one got in Harper’s way as he rushed the mound. His eyes were wide as he flung his helmet — it sailed wide of Strickland, it might’ve slipped — and they started swinging away. The 6-foot-4 Strickland hit Harper in the face, then they broke apart for a moment before squaring off again. Harper punched Strickland in the head as the benches and bullpen emptied.
Harper and Strickland were both ejected. They have some history between them — in the 2014 NL Division Series, Harper hit two home runs off Strickland, and the All-Star outfielder glared at the reliever as he rounded the bases.
ASTROS 16, TWINS 8
In Minneapolis, Carlos Beltran homered and singled during an 11-run burst in the eighth inning against the Twins’ beleaguered bullpen, and the Astros won in a matchup of AL division leaders.
Alex Bregman also homered for Houston.
PIRATES 4, DIAMONDBACKS 3
In Pittsburgh, Andrew McCutchen hit a leadoff homer in the ninth inning, lifting the Pirates over Arizona in a wild ending.
McCutchen sent a 1-1 pitch from Archie Bradley (1-1) over the right field wall to cap off a back-andforth ninth. Diamondbacks pinch hitter Chris Iannetta tied the game moments earlier with a two-run homer to left field.
INDIANS 5, ATHLETICS 3
In Cleveland, Carlos Carrasco won his third straight decision and Edwin Encarnacion hit one of the Indians’ three solo home runs.
WHITE SOX 5, RED SOX 4
In Chicago, Boston lefty David Price had an uneven season debut while Melky Cabrera homered and drove in four runs, helping the White Sox rally.
Price, who missed the first part of the year with a left elbow strain, threw 88 pitches in five innings. The former AL Cy Young Award winner gave up two hits, including Cabrera’s three-run homer, walked two and hit two batters. He also struck out four.
ORIOLES 3, YANKEES 2
In Baltimore, Dylan Bundy allowed two runs over seven innings in another strong start at Camden Yards, and the Orioles beat New York to snap a seven-game losing streak.
Aaron Judge hit his major leagueleading 17th home run for the first-place Yankees in this AL East matchup.
DODGERS 5, CARDINALS 1
In St. Louis, Chase Utley, Cody Bellinger and Logan Forsythe hit solo home runs, leading Rich Hill and the Dodgers over St. Louis for its fifth straight victory.
PADRES 5, CUBS 2
In San Diego, Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam off Kyle Hendricks and the Padres handed Chicago its fourth straight loss.
MARINERS 6, ROCKIES 5
In Denver, Sam Gaviglio pitched into the sixth inning to get his first career victory, and Seattle used six relievers to beat Colorado.
METS 4, BREWERS 2
In New York, rookie Robert Gsellman pitched seven innings of threehit ball and had two RBIs to lead the Mets past Milwaukee.