Washington Nationals' Jonathan Papelbon chokes out teammate Bryce Harper

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The incident happened at the Nationals' Sunday home game against the Philadelphia Phillies
Video shows the moment Bryce Harper walked off the field after flying out and got into an argument with pitcher Jonathan Papelbon
The argument quickly escalated and turned violent when Papelbon choked Harper and pushed him up against the wall
Other teammates and Nationals' manager Matt Williams intervened to split the two up
Papelbon has been suspended from the team in the wake of the fight
The fight comes just 24 hours after the Nationals were eliminated from post-season contention

Published: 18:04 EST, 27 September 2015 | Updated: 14:03 EST, 28 September 2015

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Washington pitcher Jonathan Papelbon attacked teammate Bryce Harper in an extraordinary incident during the Nationals game against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday.

After All-Star Harper flied out in the eighth inning, he returned to the dugout and started exchanging words with veteran Papelbon.

The verbal spat quickly became heated and then Papelbon went for Harper's throat with his left hand and slammed him against the wall.

Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals is grabbed by teammate Jonathan Papelbon #58 in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park on September 27, 2015 in Washington, DC

Teammates and National's Manager Matt Williams had to intervene to break up the fight. Harper pictured third from right

Following the dugout fight, the Nationals announced that Papelbon had been suspended. The fight comes just one day after the team was eliminated from post-season contention

Teammates and manager Matt Williams quickly separated the pair.

'I'm in the wrong there. ... For me, I can't allow that to happen in the middle of a game. You can handle that after the games or allow the manager to handle that. So in that light of it, I'm wrong,' Papelbon, a six-time All-Star, told reporters.

Harper, who is regarded as a contender for the National League's most valuable player, was clearly upset by the incident.

'He apologized. Whatever, I really don't care,' he said.

When asked if he had ever gotten into a fight with a fellow teammates before, Harper said: 'Usually fighting the other team.'

After the game, Papelbon (left) took responsibility for the fight, saying: 'I'm in the wrong here'

'He apologized. Whatever, I really don't care,' Harper, left, later said

Manager Williams said the altercation came 'out of the blue' and that Papelbon had been suspended.

'Certainly, there's a lot of testosterone flowing among young men competing,' Williams said.

'This is a family issue and we'll deal with it that way.'

The fight occurred just four days after Papelbon got into yet another fight. On Wednesday, he was ejected from the Nationals' game against the Baltimore Orioles for taking a swing at opponent Manny Machado.

The league suspended Papelbon for three games for the incident, but he appealed, allowing him to play in Sunday's game against the Phillies.

The fight marked a tumultuous end to a disappointing season for the Nationals.

They were widely expected to make the playoffs, but fell out of playoff contention on Saturday and have a 79-76 record after losing to the Phillies 12-5 on Sunday.

Papelbon took the loss after giving up five runs in one inning.