Later in the same inning, Oneil Cruz hit a grand slam, contributing to the Pirates' commanding 6-0 lead.

During a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 16, 2025, Washington Nationals pitcher Jorge López was ejected after a pitch nearly hit Andrew McCutchen in the head.

The game concluded with the Pirates defeating the Nationals 6-1, with Cruz's performance energizing the team according to McCutchen.

The Nationals and Pirates were concluding a four-game series, with the Nationals holding a record of 7-11 and the Pirates at 7-12.

Following this series, the Nationals are scheduled to face the Colorado Rockies in a weekend series.

López has a history of emotional outbursts on the field, including a previous ejection while with the New York Mets for arguing with an umpire.

As a result of the altercation, López received a three-game suspension, while Nationals manager Martinez was suspended for one game.

After the game, López expressed regret, stating he did not intentionally throw at McCutchen and apologized, saying, 'I apologize for everything' and mentioning he was struggling with his delivery.

The incident escalated in the seventh inning, leading to an argument between López and McCutchen that prompted both benches to clear.

Pirates catcher Henry Davis commented on the incident, emphasizing the team's support for McCutchen and their camaraderie.

In the game, López allowed four runs on two hits, raising his earned run average (ERA) to 10.57 over 7.2 innings this season.

This incident reflects ongoing tensions between the Nationals and Pirates as they wrapped up their series.