Harper on brawl with Papelbon: 'It's like brothers fighting'

Bryce Harper is taking the high road after a brawl with teammate Jonathan Papelbon on Sunday.

Papelbon was quick to take full responsibility for placing his hands around Harper's throat in the dugout.

"First of all, let me say I'm in the wrong there," Papelbon said. "I've talked to Bryce and told him how we feel. We're on the same page now, which is good, and squash this and head to tomorrow's game."

However, the veteran closer said it's important to "play the game the right way," suggesting he did in fact have an issue with Harper failing to run out a fly ball in the eighth inning of the Washington Nationals' 12-5 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.

"I've got to leave that up to our manager," Papelbon said. "You know, there's a lot of competition and it's a long season, it's a grind. You know, I think we're going to handle that in-house and stuff like that.

"I grew up with brothers. I view him as a brother of mine. Sometimes in this game, there's a lot of testosterone, there's a lot of intensity that spills over. Think that happened today. For me, I can't allow that to happen in the middle of the game."

Harper said the scuffle with Papelbon is water under the bridge.

"He apologized, so whatever," Harper said. "I really don't care. ... It's like brothers fighting. That's what happens. I'm looking forward to the next six games."

Manager Matt Williams, who elected to leave Papelbon in the game to pitch following the incident, wouldn't comment on any potential discipline for his closer after the game.

"This is a family issue and we'll deal with it that way," Williams said.

Williams had a simple reply when asked why he left Papelbon in the game:

Williams revealed Harper, the odds-on favorite to capture this year's National League MVP award, wasn't injured in the melee with Papelbon.