VIDEO: Bryce Harper Leaves Game After Injuring Hand on Slide, Nats Retaliate, Benches Clearing

Bryce Harper awkwardly slid into third on a triple in the third inning of today’s Nats-Pirates game. He would have made it to third easily, but was impelled to slide when Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang pretended as though a throw was coming to third, when it was not. Harper appeared to injure his left hand.

In the bottom half of the inning, Harper was replaced in right field by Chris Heisey. Nats pitcher AJ Cole threw at Kang (though didn’t hit him) in retaliation for the gesture that made Harper slide. Benches and bullpens cleared. Cole was ejected from the game. Dusty Baker appeared to yell obscenities at the Pirates.