Washington Nationals relief pitcher Jorge Lopez has been suspended for three games by Major League Baseball for intentionally throwing at Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen during a recent game. Lopez has appealed the suspension, allowing him to play in Washington's upcoming series finale against Pittsburgh. Additionally, Nationals manager Dave Martinez has been suspended for one game, which he will serve immediately.
During the game, Lopez hit Bryan Reynolds with a pitch before almost hitting McCutchen in the head with a 92 mph ball. This led to a confrontation between Lopez and McCutchen, resulting in both benches clearing. Despite Lopez claiming it was not intentional, the incident escalated tensions between the teams. Following the altercation, Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham was seen being restrained by teammate Oneil Cruz. Pittsburgh capitalized on the situation, with Cruz hitting a grand slam off Eduardo Salazar to secure a 6-1 victory. McCutchen acknowledged Cruz's performance, noting that the grand slam was a pivotal moment that energized the team.