Tensions rise, fists fly in D.C.

WASHINGTON — Nationals manager Davey Johnson figures the Chicago Cubs were ticked off because Jayson Werth swung at a 3-0 pitch in the fifth inning.

Just to be clear, Johnson wasn't apologizing.

Adam LaRoche added to his home run tear with a two-run shot and Washington beat the Cubs 9-2 in a fight-filled game Thursday night to finish a lopsided four-game sweep.

"If they get mad at my guys in the fifth inning swinging 3-0 or running, they better get used to it," Johnson said.

The trouble started with a testy exchange between Chicago bench coach Jamie Quirk and Nationals third base coach Bo Porter in the fifth. Quirk shouted from the dugout toward third base and Porter walked over to the railing, jawing and pointing his finger.

The benches and bullpens emptied, but there was no pushing or shoving. Quirk was ejected before play resumed.

"It was the bench coach's frustration in us handing it to him for a couple days," Johnson said. "If they want to quit competing and forfeit, then fine. But we're going to keep competing."

In the sixth, Chicago reliever Lendy Castillo threw his first pitch of the inning near Bryce Harper's legs and the ball that sailed all the way to the backstop.

"Castillo's a Rule 5 kid who's thrown a lot of them pitches today," Chicago manager Dale Sveum said. "There was no intention to hit Bryce Harper or anything because of what happened."

Harper made a move toward the mound and was quickly intercepted by catcher Steve Clevenger.

Both teams spilled onto the field again, and this time things got a little nasty.

Players pushed and shoved each other in the infield and Clevenger took an open-handed swipe at Washington shortstop Ian Desmond, who accidentally knocked down first base umpire Bill Miller while backing away.

"I'm just trying to check off everything on my list this whole year," Harper said. "I've gotten thrown at, gotten hit, stole home."

Clevenger, Cubs right-hander Manuel Corpas and Nationals lefty Michael Gonzalez were ejected — though neither pitcher was in the game. Order was finally restored and Washington went on to its fifth straight victory and eighth in nine games.

"All that stuff that happened, that was instigated by Quirk screaming out at Porter," plate umpire Jerry Layne said. "And the obscenities that he screamed out I just felt was inappropriate, and that's what caused everything. The reason he was ejected was he was the cause."

Porter declined to get into specifics. But he did have something to say about the dustup.

"When I was younger, I did Gold Glove boxing," he said. "My trainer would always tell me before the bell rang, 'Just in case you didn't know, when this bell rings, that guy over there, he's going to hit back.' "

Braves 1, Rockies 0

In Atlanta, Tim Hudson pitched seven sharp innings and the Braves posted their second straight 1-0 victory over Colorado, winning both times with an unearned run.

This was an especially galling loss for the Rockies. Juan Francisco raced home with the lone run when Colorado starter Jhoulys Chacin (2-5) dropped a routine throw back to the mound from his catcher.

That was enough for Hudson (14-5), who stranded eight runners. Craig Kimbrel earned his 34th save.

Marlins 6, Brewers 2

In Miami, Josh Johnson pitched seven solid innings and ended his career-worst four-game losing streak, leading the Marlins past Milwaukee.

Johnson (8-11) allowed two runs and four hits while striking out seven. He won for the first time since Aug. 3 at Washington.

Milwaukee's Norichika Aoki was 1-for-3, hitting his fourth triple of the season. He also stole a base, his 23rd of the season, and scored a run.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Orioles 10, Yankees 6

In Baltimore, Mark Reynolds hit two of the hosts' season-high six home runs — three in a wild eighth inning — and the Orioles climbed back into a first-place tie with New York in the AL East with a victory.

Adam Jones' leadoff homer in the eighth off David Robertson (1-6) put Baltimore ahead 7-6 after the Yankees had rallied from a five-run deficit in the top half. Matt Wieters followed with a single and Reynolds hit a drive into the seats in left. Chris Davis then slammed the first pitch from Boone Logan over the wall in right.

Wieters and Robert Andino also connected for the Orioles, who have won 10 of 13.

Ichiro Suzuki was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a stolen base for New York.

Rangers 5, Royals 4 (10)

In Kansas City, Ian Kinsler hit a leadoff triple in the 10th for Texas and scored on Michael Young's single.

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