MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Did Chicago Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber get cheated out of a Home Run Derby title Monday night?
Chicago Cubs fans think so.
The All-Star derby final came down to Washington Nationals' right fielder Bryce Harper and Schwarber, an outfielder for the Cubs who grew up in Middletown, Ohio. Schwarber's father was a member of Middletown's police department.
Under MLB rules, a batted ball technically should hit the ground before the pitcher throws again.
But video shows Harper's pitcher -- his dad Ron -- didn't do that as he tied it up at 18.
Then Harper slammed in the winning run during 30 seconds of bonus time, his reward for hitting two homers at least 440 feet during the 4 minutes of regulation.
"I thought it was an awesome competition, and you had two great players battling it out," Middletown, Ohio Police Chief Rodney Muterspaw said. He stays in touch with Schwarber's family.
Still, Cubs fans think Schwarber got cheated. To the Washington Post's Dan Steinberg, they're "home run derby truthers."
My absolute favorite thing in the world right now is Cubs fan home run derby truthers who believe the Harpers were cheating pic.twitter.com/F7QEvPt5pj
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) July 17, 2018
Harper only won cuz he cheated. How pathetic
— Kyle Duran (@KdDuran) July 17, 2018
Bryce Harper cheated.. his dad refused to follow the rule that said he had to wait till the ball hit the ground to continue. Schwarber wins.
— Jake Cahill (@cahill_42) July 17, 2018
We all just about to ignore the fact that Bryce Harper just cheated in the HR Derby...?
— dylan wilcox (@motorcity2mo) July 17, 2018
For Schwarber's part, he thought Harper would benefit from the home-field advantage. The Nationals are hosting this year's Midsummer Classic.
"As soon as I got done with that round I told myself that (Harper) had it," he said. "I knew that he had the home crowd behind him."
