Bullpen battle

Washington first baseman Stewart Ijames makes a throw to second base during the first inning Sunday against Evansville. In the background, Washington's bullpen crew stand along the right-field line in a (for lack of a better term) bullpen battle. After the national anthem was played, the relief pitchers for each team remained standing at attention along the foul territory side of their respective foul lines, Evansville in left field and Washington in right field. They remained that way, with approval of the umpires, as part of a bullpen challenge to see which group would be the first to disperse. Washington won the challenge when Mark Samuelson’s first-inning double went down the left-field line and to the wall, scattering the Otters’ pitchers.