PITTSBURGH -- Benches cleared at PNC Park and Nationals reliever Jorge López was ejected after throwing a ball up and in at Andrew McCutchen in the seventh inning on Wednesday.
The right-hander threw very high and inside to McCutchen, who quickly hit the ground to avoid the ball near his head. L車pez hit Bryan Reynolds with a pitch one batter earlier from the opposite side of the plate.
※I apologize for everything,§ L車pez said after the Nationals＊ 6-1 loss to the Pirates. ※I didn＊t make any pitch [on purpose] right there. ＃ I tried to do my adjustment. I＊ve been trying to find my way with my delivery, I tried to find my way through the whole season. And it's really miserable that happened. I regret what just happened.§
L車pez, who entered the game with a 6.43 ERA and one hit batter in seven relief appearances, attempted to express his intentions after delivering the pitch. He also emphasized the pitch had nothing to do with McCutchen and Reynolds homering off of him last season.
※I was trying to resolve the problem,§ L車pez said. ※He knows I always pitch in. ＃ It just went in-up. I told him, I tried to resolve you. I know what you＊re talking about. I＊m just here to tell you, I got no problem with you. It＊s just part of the game where we don't want to be, but just another lesson to learn.§
When asked if he felt the delivery was personal or intentional, McCutchen replied, ※I don't think it matters if it was or if it wasn't. It's just the fact of the nature of the situation. I never try to say ... I can't speak for the other person. Just the nature of the situation, take it as is. Even if it wasn't on purpose, which I don't really think it was. I think it was just the heat of the moment got to him maybe. One got away from him, similar to [Pirates starter] Mitch [Keller on Tuesday]. Praise God for quick reflexes."
L車pez wasn＊t ejected immediately. After the benches and bullpens emptied, he ended up tossed from the game.
"I don't necessarily think it was warranted, but the umpires saw it differently, so they ejected Jorge,§ said Nationals manager Dave Martinez. ※Unfortunately, it was a good game up to that point, and things got out of hand."
Said Pirates manager Derek Shelton, "It was way too close to his head. Bryan had gotten hit two pitches before. And then we go above Cutch's head? Not a fan of that. And I think the umpires did a really good job of controlling it, knowing the situation. I mean, if this stems from something from yesterday, Mitch did not try to hit Paul DeJong in the face in a 1-0 game. It was totally accidental. If this was retribution for that, then that's just lack of awareness."
The previous night, DeJong suffered a fractured nose when he was hit in the face by a fastball from Keller.
※You never want to see fastballs up there,§ Nathaniel Lowe said, adding, ※Obviously, last night wasn＊t on purpose and our hearts are with Paul and his recovery. Then with a couple pitches high and tight there, I understand why their side＊s upset. And obviously, we have to go out there and protect our guy when things get a little heated.§
Following the ejection, L車pez was replaced by Eduardo Salazar, who walked McCutchen and then gave up a grand slam to Oneil Cruz.
"We thought that was a good matchup for him,§ Martinez said of Salazar. ※He came in and just threw two balls, non-competitive pitches, to walk McCutchen. And then spun a breaking ball right down the middle of the plate to Cruzy.