The Los Angeles Dodgers tied their series with the San Diego Padres on Saturday to set up a rubber match, but it didn’t come without some drama.
As Gavin Stone was throwing a perfect game in the fifth inning, Jurickson Profar showed bunt as he led off. It seemingly was an attempt to get into the Stone’s mind and disrupt his rhythm.
Bunting during a perfect game or no-hitter is one of baseball’s unwritten rules, but it was early enough and a close score to justify the attempt, if Profar fully committed to it.
However, the next pitch was up and in to Profar, which he took issues with. That led to him and Will Smith exchanging some words at home plate before the benches cleared.
“I don’t know, he took offense to a cutter inside,” Smith said. “He was starting at Stoney and I felt like I needed to say something to stand up for Stoney. I thought the whole thing was kind of silly, stupid, whatever you want to call it.
“I don’t really know why he thought we were trying to hit him there. Just pulled a cutter. It was kind of weird.”
When speaking to David Vassegh of AM 570 L.A. Sports, Smith expressed even further confusion and dismay with Profar:
“Yeah, I don’t know what his deal was. He thought we were trying to throw at him. I don’t know why we would’ve thrown at him. He’s kind of irrelevant. But I don’t know. He started mouthing off and everybody came out. I don’t know why he was throwing such a big deal about that.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also shared his thoughts that Profar made the situation overblown and the team wouldn’t attempt to hit a player in that spot.
“From what I understand, there wasn’t feel there,” Roberts said. “You’ve got to be able to throw inside, and obviously with one out in a one-run ballgame, the pitcher is not going to throw at a hitter.
“You can’t afford a baserunner. I don’t understand if that was gamesmanship or what, but Will let him know, ‘We’re not throwing at you. Just get back in the box and play the game.’”
Will Smith praises Gavin Stone
Stone ended up getting Profar to fly out after he chased the first pitch after the delay in the dirt.
“He was fine,” Smith said. “Didn’t get him rattled at all. He remained calm. He was in a good headspace and he was out there competing and executing pitches.”
The right-hander ultimately lost his perfect game in the sixth inning, and the Padres were finally able to scratch a run across.
Stone finished his night throwing 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk. It was the deepest he’s pitched into a game during his career.
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