Harper, Papelbon clash as Nationals MLB season winds down.

Washington (AFP) - Washington Nationals star Bryce Harper traded blows with pitcher Jonathan Papelbon in an ugly dugout scuffle on Sunday that underscored the Major League Baseball team's miserable end to the season.

Harper, seen as the frontrunner for the National League's MVP award this year after a stellar season, skirmished with Papelbon as the Nationals slumped to a 12-5 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies.

It was not clear what triggered the fiery altercation, which occurred a day after the Nationals had been eliminated from play-off contention on Saturday following a late season collapse.

The score in Sunday's game had been level at 4-4 when Harper and Papelbon clashed during the eighth inning.

Papelbon was then hit for a homer by Phillies second baseman Andres Blanco as the visitors took a 6-4 lead before romping home with six more runs.

Harper later moved to draw a line under the flare-up, likening it to a scuffle between siblings.

"He apologized. Whatever. It is like brothers fighting," said Harper.

Papelbon meanwhile accepted responsibility for the fight. "I am in the wrong there," Papelbon said.

"There is a lot of competition; it is a long season. It is a grind."

Asked if he expected to be suspended by the Nationals, Papelbon declined to speculate about his possible punishment.

"I think we will handle that in-house," he said.

"I talked to Bryce and told him how I feel. We are on the same page now. I view him as a brother of mine. Sometimes in this game there is ... a lot of intensity that spills over.

"I can't allow that to happen in the middle of the game. In light of that, I am wrong." yahoo.com