Tempers Flare in Series Finale

Last night saw two scuffles. Here is the second with Morse and Harper being restrained and Desmond helping an ump.

Last night, the Nationals completed their series sweep of the Chicago Cubs. The Nationals record has now improved to 85-52. They are well on their way to 100 wins and an MLB best record at seasons end.

Last night, the Cubs showed the Nationals what just can happen when you defeat a team 2-1, 11-5, 9-1, and 9-2. Twice, the dugouts and bullpens emptied.

The first time came when Bo Porter got exchanged words with someone from the Cubs dugout. After Jayson Werth took a homer-type swing and a 3-0 pitch. That prompted someone from the Cubs dugout to well at third base coach Porter. Porter, defending himself and his team, then walked all the way to the top step of the Cubs dugout. As Porter approached the dugout, benches and bullpens cleared. Coaches and umpires were able to separate the two teams before things got real ugly.

Shortly after that, Cubs pitcher Lendy Castillo threw (intentionally? unintentionally?) inside on Bryce Harper. Harper then jawed at Castillo and, once again, both benches and bullpens cleared. Michael Morse had to be physically restrained by Davey Johnson and it appeared as though Cubs catcher, Steve Clevenger, took a swing at Ian Desmond.

When the smoke had cleared, three Cubs, Jamie Quirk, Steve Clevenger, and Manny Corpas were ejected and the Nationals Mike Gonzalez got tossed, as well.

That just goes to show you what happens when you out score your opponent 31-9 over the course of a four game series. Tempers will flare and it may not necessarily be because of something that the Nationals did. It could have simply been the Cubs getting fed up with the Nationals explosive offense.

And explosive it was.

In the second inning, newly acquired Kurt Suzuki hit his third home run in a Nationals uniform. His three run blast scored Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa to put the Nationals up 4-2.

 The Nationals put up three more runs in the fourth inning when Suzuki scored on an error and Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-RBI single.

Adam LaRoche capped off the offensive effort with his fourth home run in as many days when he sent a two-run home run over the right-centerfield wall. The Cubs challenged the scoring, but the umpire stayed with his original call upon further review.

The Nationals now hold the best record in baseball following tonight's series sweeping win by 2.5 games over the Reds. The Nationals next nine games all come against NL East opponents. The Nationals welcome the Marlins to D.C. tomorrow and then go on the road to play the Mets and Braves.


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