MLB suspends Strickland, Harper after fists fly during Giants-Nationals game

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Giants reliever Hunter Strickland has received a six-game suspension and Washington's Bryce Harper four games for their roles in a benches-clearing brawl at AT&T Park a day earlier.

Each also has been fined an undisclosed amount, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday.

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In a statement, the MLB said that the suspensions were scheduled to be effective Tuesday night, but both players planned to appeal. "Thus, the respective discipline issued to each player will be held in abeyance until the process is complete," according to MLB.  

Strickland hit Harper in the hip with a 98 mph pitch and the Washington slugger charged the mound, wildly firing his helmet and trading punches to the head with Strickland during the Nationals' 3-0 win Monday over the San Francisco Giants.

Harper opened up about the incident to CBSSports.com in an interview about why he rushed the mound.

"I don't want to go on a baseball field and try to fight somebody. Especially when it's somebody that it's in the past," he said. "It's so in the past that it's not even relevant anymore ... You can't hesitate (after getting hit). You either go to first base or go after him. I decided to go after him."

"You can't really worry about what MLB is going to do because you don't really know," Harper said. "Whatever they say goes and I'm just going to worry about the four games I got and see what I can do."

Strickland, 28, hit Harper in apparent retaliation for the two home runs Harper hit against him way back during the 2014 National League Division Series (NLDS), a series the Giants won, CBSSports.com reports. They eventually went on to win the World Series too. Monday was the first time Strickland faced Harper since that NLDS.

"It's just crazy that it even happened yesterday after three years to do that," Harper said. "I don't know. I don't know what was going through his mind or how upset he was the past couple of years. If he did have a problem, he could have talked to me about it."

Strickland receiving more game suspensions than Harper might be a surprise to some, but MLB in recent memory has generally come down harder on the player they believed to be the instigator, CBSSports.com reports. Per the official MLB release, they ruled that Strickland threw at Harper intentionally, resulting in his harsher punishment.

"I'm obviously not thrilled about it," Strickland said. "It's their call. We'll go from there. Whatever they ultimately decide, I'll own it and take the responsibility."

Harper flung his helmet and they began throwing punches, with the 6-foot-4 Strickland clocking Harper in the face. They then broke apart for a moment before squaring off again. Harper punched Strickland in the head as the benches and bullpens emptied.

Giants teammates Michael Morse and Jeff Samardzija collided hard as they tried to get between the two fighters and Harper said it could have been more serious if that hadn't happened.

"As I was going out there, the first initial reaction is you might get blindsided by one of their players coming in," he said. "I'm kind of thankful that Mikey Mo and Samardzija collided because Samardzija saw blood a little bit I thought. Very thankful for Mikey Mo."

One player who didn't join the fray was Giants catcher Buster Posey, who stood and watched as Harper rushed the mound and then stayed to the edges of the fight.

While much was made on social media about Posey's inaction, Strickland said there was no need for Posey to explain himself.

"I know Buster has our back," Strickland said. "We as a whole group and team, we stick together. That's never a worry of mine."

Harper had his own theory why Posey stayed out of the mix.

"I think a lot of their guys were shocked," Harper said. "Buster was definitely shocked and not looking for that to happen." 

There are still two games left in the series between the two teams in San Francisco -- next up is Tuesday night at 10:15 p.m. ET.

The Nationals enter Tuesday 31-19 and with an 8 1/2 game lead in the NL East, CBSSports.com reports. Harper is hitting .331/.443/.663 with 11 doubles, 15 homers and 41 RBI, so him missing any time definitely hurts.

Bryce Harper, 24, leads all of Major League Baseball in fan balloting for the 2017 MLB All-Star Game, according to the MLB. The 2015 National League Most Valuable Player is aiming for his fifth career All-Star selection and fourth fan-elected start.

The Giants are a disappointing 22-31. Strickland has a 1.53 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 18 strikeouts against nine walks in 17 2/3 inningsm according to CBSSports.com.