TRIB-LIVE: When Jorge Lopez threw a pitch too close for comfort to Andrew McCutchen’s head, the Pittsburgh Pirates icon held his bat in one hand and pointed at the Washington Nationals reliever.
As tempers flared and benches cleared Wednesday night, Oneil Cruz played the peacemaker by stepping between McCutchen and Lopez as heated words were exchanged.
After McCutchen drew a walk to load the bases, Cruz delivered a devastating blow by crushing a grand slam to right field that sent the crowd of 8,529 at PNC Park into a frenzy in a five-run inning that boosted the Pirates to a 6-1 win.