A big brawl erupts in the 8th inning of a game between the Nationals and Giants. With Washington leading 3 – 0, Hunter Strickland plunks Bryce Harper on the hip with a 98 mph fastball, angering the young superstar who charges the mound, triggering a bench-clearing brawl. Not many punches land, but an angry Strickland has to be dragged off the field by three teammates. The Nats claim the pitch is in retaliation for an incident during the 2014 Division Series, when Harper homered twice off Strickland and the two exchanged words; they had not faced one another since then. Harper will receive a four-game suspension and Strickland one of six games for their part in the fracas.

On May 29, 2017 — A big brawl erupts in the 8th inning of a game between the Nationals and Giants. With Washington leading 3 – 0, Hunter Strickland plunks Bryce Harper on the hip with a 98 mph fastball, angering the young superstar who charges the mound, triggering a bench-clearing brawl. Not many punches land, but an angry Strickland has to be dragged off the field by three teammates. The Nats claim the pitch is in retaliation for an incident during the 2014 Division Series, when Harper homered twice off Strickland and the two exchanged words; they had not faced one another since then. Harper will receive a four-game suspension and Strickland one of six games for their part in the fracas.

Source:
Baseball Reference May 29