Jonathan Papelbon attacks Bryce Harper in dugout, Nats lose 12-5

Playing in possibly his second-to-last home game at Nationals Park, Ian Desmond pulverized a hanging slider from right-hander Aaron Harang, sending the ball smacking off the second deck facade in right-center field for a solo homer with two outs in the second. It was Desmond's 19th longball of the season.

Moments later, Matt den Dekker drilled Harang's first-pitch heater deep over the center field wall for back-to-back homers.

Statcast estimated Desmond's blast at 430 feet and den Dekker's at 449 feet.

Update: After breezing through the first five innings, Gio Gonzalez ran into trouble in the sixth.

Gonzalez surrendered three straight singles to load the bases with no outs. Then the left-hander's command escaped him as he walked consecutive batters, allowing two runs.

Update II: Gonzalez allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. He three 89 pitches in five-plus innings.

Desmond and den Dekker picked up their third hits of the afternoon to start the seventh. Jose Lobaton then slapped a double down the left field line, scoring Desmond and giving the Nats the lead. A pinch-hit sacrifice fly from Dan Uggla added some insurance.

Right-hander Casey Janssen yielded a leadoff double to Aaron Altherr in the eighth. Two batters later, Jeff Francoeur belted a game-tying two-run homer to left.

Update III: Bryce Harper flew out to left to start the eighth. As Harper was retreating to the dugout, he and Jonathan Papelbon exchanged heated words. Papelbon continued after Harper appeared to mouth "Do you want to go?"

When Harper made it down the dugout steps, Papelbon lunged at Harper, putting his hands around Harper's throat. Several Nationals, including Desmond, had to pull Papelbon back.

When the ninth inning began, Papelbon returned to the mound, while Harper left the game. Moments later, Papelbon surrendered a go-ahead two-run homer to Andres Blanco.

Update IV: The Phillies scored eight runs in the ninth and den Dekker scored one back for the Nats in the bottom of the frame.

The Phillies beat the Nationals 12-5.