Jorge Lopez suspended for intentionally throwing at Andrew McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds, a breakdown

Apr 20, 2025 1.1M views 9:27

What Happened

In a tense matchup between the Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates, Nationals pitcher Jorge López takes the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. The game is tight, with the Nationals trailing by one run. López, known for his wild and emotional pitching style, is trying to keep the game close. In the previous game, Mitch Keller of the Pirates had hit Oneil Cruz in the face, fracturing his nose, adding to the animosity between the two teams. Now, López appears to be seeking retaliation against the Pirates' hitters, Brian Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen, who had each hit home runs off him the previous season. López starts the inning by locating his pitches well, mixing in off-speed sliders and two-seamers. However, when Reynolds steps up to the plate, the first pitch from López comes in high and tight, hitting him in the arm. Reynolds takes his base without incident, and McCutchen steps in next. The first pitch to McCutchen is a breaking ball that comes close to his head, causing the veteran outfielder to duck and drop to the ground. The crowd reacts angrily, and Nationals manager David Martinez comes out to argue with the umpires, believing the pitches were intentional. The umpires warn both dugouts, but Martinez continues to plead his case. López, seemingly unaffected, stands his ground and argues with the umpires, claiming the pitches were not intentional. However, the umpires, based on the evidence and the history between the teams, decide to eject López from the game, much to his dismay. As the benches clear and the teams get into a heated confrontation, Nationals first base coach Fanny Descolado and Pirates manager Miguel Cairo exchange words and have to be separated by the umpires. The players and coaches are clearly frustrated, and the game has taken on an intense, emotional tone. The fallout from this incident will likely continue, as the teams' rivalry and the history between the pitchers add to the growing tension. The Nationals now find themselves in a tough spot, having lost their starting pitcher in a close game, and the stage is set for further drama as the contest continues.

Full Transcript

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Jorge Lopez on the mound for the

Nationals. He's blown into his hand

because it's a cold night. He's trying

to keep the game at bay. They're losing

by one. He'd like to keep it that way.