Harper, Strickland trade punches; Nats top Giants

SAN FRANCISCO — An enraged Bryce Harper charged the mound, fired his helmet and traded punches to the head with San Francisco reliever Hunter Strickland after getting hit by a fastball, setting off a wild brawl Monday during the Washington Nationals’ 3-0 victory over the Giants.

Drilled in the right hip by a 98 mph heater on Strickland’s first pitch in the eighth inning with two outs, none on and Washington ahead 2-0, Harper didn’t hesitate. The slugger pointed his bat at Strickland, yelled at him and took off.

No one got in Harper’s way as he rushed the mound. His eyes were wide as he flung his helmet — it sailed way wide of Strickland — and they started swinging away. Strickland, 6-foot-4, hit Harper in the face, then they broke apart for a moment before squaring off again. Harper punched Strickland in the head as the benches and bullpen emptied.

Giants teammates Michael Morse and Jeff Samardzija collided hard as they tried to get between the two fighters. Three Giants players forcefully dragged Strickland from the middle of the pack all the way into the dugout, while a teammate held back Harper.

Harper and Strickland were both ejected. They have some history between them — in the 2014 NL Division Series, Harper hit two home runs off Strickland, and the All-Star outfielder glared at the reliever as he rounded the bases after the second shot in Game 4.

Tanner Roark (5-2) struck out 6 and allowed 6 hits in 7 innings. The NL East leaders opened a nine-game West Coast trip with their sixth victory in eight games.

DODGERS 5, CARDINALS 1 Cody Bellinger, Chase Utley and Logan Forsythe (Arkansas Razorbacks) hit solo home runs, leading Rich Hill and visiting Los Angeles over St. Louis.

PADRES 5, CUBS 2 Rookie Hunter Renfroe hit a grand slam off Kyle Hendricks and host San Diego handed Chicago its fourth consecutive loss. The defending World Series champion Cubs have lost six road games in a row.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

TIGERS 10, ROYALS 7 Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez each drove in three runs as the Detroit Tigers came from behind to beat the Kansas City Royals 10-7 on Monday night. The Tigers scored four runs in the eighth, highlighted by Cabrera’s two-run single. Cabrera, who reached base four times, walked with the bases loaded in a six-run Detroit fifth inning. Joakim Soria (2-2), who is 0-for-3 in save situations, retired none of the five batters he faced in the eighth and four scored. He allowed three singles, walked two and allowed a run on a wild pitch.

ASTROS 16, TWINS 8 Carlos Beltran homered and singled during an 11-run burst in the eighth inning and visiting Houston overwhelmed Minnesota for its fifth consecutive victory. The Astros combined for eight hits, two walks, a hit batter and a balk in the eighth to rally from an 8-2 deficit. The Twins tried three pitchers in the inning, a day after they used eight relievers in a 15-inning loss to Tampa Bay.

WHITE SOX 5, RED SOX 4 Boston’s David Price lasted five innings in his season debut and host Chicago defeated the Red Sox. But the lefthander’s outing took a back seat to another injury for a key teammate. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia bounced to first in the first inning and Chicago’s Jose Abreu slid into the bag for the out. Pedroia went right over the top of the big first baseman while trying to beat out the grounder for a hit. The Red Sox then pulled Pedroia in the second with a sprained wrist. ORIOLES 3, YANKEES 2 Dylan Bundy allowed two runs over seven innings and host Baltimore snapped a seven-game losing streak, defeating New York.

INTERLEAGUE

MARINERS 6, ROCKIES 5 Sam Gaviglio pitched into the sixth inning to get his first career victory, and visiting Seattle used six relievers to beat Colorado.

BLUE JAYS 17, REDS 2 Troy Tulowitzki hit his fourth career grand slam, Marcus Stroman won his fifth straight decision to help the Toronto Blue Jays rout the Cincinnati Reds 17-2 on Monday night.