Harper, Strickland brawl on mound

SAN FRANCISCO — An enraged Bryce Harper charged the mound, fired his helmet and traded punches to the head with Giants reliever Hunter Strickland after getting hit by a fastball, setting off a wild brawl Monday during the Nationals’ 3-0 victory.

Drilled in the right hip by a 98-mph heater on Strickland’s first pitch with two out, none on and the Nats ahead 2-0 in the eighth, 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 way wide of Strickland — and they started swinging. The 6-foot-4 Strickland hit Harper in the face, and then they broke apart for a moment before squaring off again. Harper punched Strickland in the head as the benches and bullpens emptied.

Harper and Strickland were ejected. They have some history. 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 after the second shot in Game 4.

But Harper said he didn’t expect retaliation Monday.

“No, not in that situation,” he said. “Especially since it’s been three years and they won the World Series that year. But when somebody comes at you like that, I wasn’t very happy with it.”

Strickland said once Harper charged the mound “it was go time” but said he wasn’t trying to hit him.

“I can see how (our history) kind of stands in people’s minds, but that’s the past,” Strickland said. “I left the ball over the plate a couple times to him. He’s taken advantage of that.”

MLB will review the incident, as it does all fights.