Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts received a one-game suspension for his part in a scuffle Friday night with San Diego Padres skipper Andy Green. Roberts will serve his suspension Saturday, in the second of a three-game series between the clubs.
Green and Alex Wood were both fined an undisclosed amount, Major League Baseball announced. Tempers flared in the bottom of the first inning when Wood appear to yell a profanity-laced threat at Padres utility man Jose Pirela.
Wood believed Pirela, who led off the inning with a double, was tipping pitch location to Manuel Margot. Wood denied making such a threat, though clarified his issue was with Pirela providing location and not pitch type.
For his part, Clayton Richard was critical of Wood in his postgame remarks as he referred to him as one of the “fake tough” players in the league. Richard was chased in the fifth inning and was ultimately charged with seven runs.
Umpires gathered an immediately issued warnings to both teams. Home plate umpire Greg Gibson then met with Green and Roberts prior to the second inning beginning. The conversation grew confrontational with Green’s parting words.
Roberts said postgame he took exception to Green’s “pointed” comments about Wood, and reacted emotionally. The 2016 National League Manager of the Year made contact with an umpire and Green.
Both benches and bullpens cleared, and the managers were ejected. It was Green’s second ejection this season, and a first for Roberts.
Green explained postgame he believed Wood’s actions warranted an automatic ejection, and voiced his displeasure with the umpire’s handling of the situation. Neither Green nor Roberts provided specifics over what sparked the benches clearing.
“I said it probably dripping with a little bit of sarcasm,” Green said.
Both managers believed the incident wouldn’t not spill into the next two games. Though, Roberts was more assertive the Dodgers had moved on, while Green seemed more hopeful.
