Washington Nationals pitcher Jorge López has been suspended three games and fined for throwing at Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen, Major League Baseball announced Thursday.
López was ejected from Wednesday night’s game against the Pirates after a high pitch near McCutchen’s head led to the benches briefly clearing in the seventh inning.
López hit the previous batter, Bryan Reynolds, with a pitch before facing McCutchen, who had to fall to the ground to avoid getting hit by a 92 mph ball near his head.
The right-hander has filed an appeal of the suspension, which was set to begin Thursday but will not take effect until that process is done.
Nationals manager Dave Martinez received a fine and one-game suspension because of the incident.
As the umpires gathered to discuss what happened during Wednesday's game, McCutchen and López started arguing, which caused both benches to empty. Pirates outfielder Tommy Pham was also seen yelling while being held back by teammate Oneil Cruz.
Washington (7-11) concludes its four-game series at Pittsburgh (7-12) Thursday afternoon.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen (22) gets out of the way of a high and inside pitch from Washington Nationals pitcher Jorge López during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen, left, is retrained by Oneil Cruz as benches cleared after Washington Nationals pitcher Jorge López nearly hit McCutchen with a high inside pitch during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Washington Nationals pitcher Jorge López walks to the dugout after being ejected from a baseball game after hitting a batter and then throwing high and inside to Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen during the seventh inning in Pittsburgh, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
TORONTO (AP) — Sergei Bobrovsky made 31 saves, three Florida defensemen scored and the Panthers routed the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 on Wednesday night to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
The defending champion Panthers scored three times in a 7:53 span of the second period to pull away for their third straight victory.
“I wasn’t thinking about it too much,” Bobrovsky said when asked about opening the series with two losses. “I was just focusing on the next game.”
Game 6 is Friday night in Sunrise, Florida.
“I’m not a big believer in momentum,” Florida coach Paul Maurice said. “The series is closer than you think.”
Jesper Boqvist returned to score his first career playoff goal and also had an assist, and defensemen Aaron Ekblad, Dmitry Kulikov and Niko Mikkola also scored in the first two periods. In the third, A.J. Greer had his first career playoff goal and Sam Bennett added his sixth of the playoffs.
Bobrovsky missed a chance for his second straight shutout when Nicholas Robertson swept the puck in with 1:06 left for Toronto's first goal in 143 minutes 25 seconds. After a 5-4 overtime victory Friday night in Game 3, Bobrovsky made 23 saves Sunday night in a 2-0 victory.
“We have trust in Bob that you wouldn’t believe," Ekblad said. "It is unwavering.”
Joseph Woll stopped 20 of 25 shots for Toronto before giving way to Matt Murray after Greer's goal at 6:23 of the third. Murray made six saves on seven shots.
“I don’t think there’s really any excuse or explanation,” Toronto captain Auston Matthews said. “We’ve got to win a game to keep our season alive.”
Ekblad opened the scoring with 5:22 left in the first period, firing a wrist shot past Woll off a scramble.
Kulikov began the second-period spree at 6:08 with a slap shot from the right point that Toronto's Scott Laughton inadvertently deflected past Woll.
Boqvist, back in the lineup in place of the injured Evan Rodrigues after being a healthy scratch for two games, scored with 9:55 remaining. Boqvist finished at the left post off San Reinhart's cross-ice feed. Mikkola made it 4-0 with 5:59 left with a slapper from the left side.
Rodrigues was hurt on a hit from Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Game 4 that drew an interference penalty. With Rodrigues out, Boqvist slotted into a spot alongside Reinhart and Aleksander Barkov.
“It was a good opportunity for me,” Boqvist said. “I enjoyed it, and it probably helped I was playing with two of the best players in the world.”
Toronto added forwards Nick Robertson and David Kampf and sat Calle Jarnkrok and Pontus Holmberg. Robertson last played in Game 2 of the first round. Kampf dressed for the first time since April 2 when he was injured against Florida.
AP NHL playoffs: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Florida Panthers' Jonah Gadjovich (12) is held back by linesman Kiel Murchison (79) as he goes after Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) pokes the puck away from Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) as he tries to move past Panthers' Gustav Forsling (42) during first period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers' Jesper Boqvist (70) scores on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll (60) during second period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Maple Leafs' John Tavares (91) hits Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) in front of teammate Sergei Bobrovsky (72) during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Tavares received a roughing penalty on the play. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers' Jonah Gadjovich (12) is held back by linesman Kiel Murchison (79) as he goes after Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Matt Murray (30) during third period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad (5) celebrates his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs with Sam Reinhart (13) during first period NHL playoff hockey action in Toronto on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
