Tempers flared during Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on Sunday.
The issues stemmed from the sixth inning when Jack Flaherty hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch in an 0-1 count. Machado took exception to that and began yelling at Flaherty.
Flaherty returned the yells after striking out Machado. But that resumed when the Padres were back on defense and the two continued yelling at each other with Flaherty from the dugout and Machado at third base.
After the game, Flaherty said he had an issue with Machado throwing a ball at the Dodgers dugout, which Machado admitted to doing as well, but played it down as something normal.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts did not see the it happen real time, but after watching video of the incident, he shared his displeasure with Machado’s actions. Roberts also added he believes Machado intentionally threw the ball at him after watching the video.
“I didn’t notice it at the time. I really didn’t. I didn’t notice it,” Roberts said. “I did see the video. And it was unsettling. Obviously I have a relationship with Manny from years past. There was intent behind it. It didn’t almost hit me because there was a net.
“And that was very bothersome. If it was intended at me, I would be very — it’s pretty disrespectful. So I don’t know his intent. I don’t want to speak for him. But I did see the video. And the ball was directed at me with something behind it. But I don’t know what led to that. I didn’t see it in real time but I did see the video.”
Machado believes the Dodgers hit Tatis on purpose while the Dodgers have denied that, saying it makes no sense in that situation. Tatis was the leadoff hitter in an 0-1 count of a two-run game, and Flaherty did not throw a four-seam fastball when Tatis was hit.
“The only dialogue I had was, he was chirping at Jack,” Roberts said. “And I looked at him and shook my head, making a point that we wouldn’t hit him on purpose to lead off an inning being down two runs. And, again, the point being is I think he’s using it as fuel.
“As a baseball person, anyone understands that you don’t do that, intentionally put the lead-off man on base, with three, four, five coming up behind. It just makes no sense.”
Fans also began getting involved with the tempers of the game, throwing a baseball near Jurickson Profar and trash at Tatis, which both Flaherty and Roberts disapproved of.
Dave Roberts feels Manny Machado should have been ejected
After Machado threw the ball, third base umpire Tripp Gibson went over to try to intervene. Machado was allowed to continue playing, but Roberts feels that was worthy of an ejection.
“I don’t think they should have had a little arm-around-each-other conversation,” Roberts said. “If players can throw balls at opposing managers, you know –.”
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