Monday’s altercation at the end of the seventh inning between Madison Bumgarner and Yasiel Puig was much ado about nothing for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts said Puig didn’t do wrong, and it’s a sentiment several of Puig’s teammates shared.
Bumgarner was on the opposite end of the spectrum, saying he felt as though it was Puig who initiated the stare-down that grew to shoving and benches and bullpens clearing.
Regardless of who was to blame, Giants manager Bruce Bochy pinch-hit for Bumgarner with one out in the eighth inning. The beleaguered Giants’ bullpen then proceeded to lose the team’s 1-0 lead in the ninth.
The Dodgers’ win extended their lead in the National League West to six games. Their magic number to clinch the division is down to seven, with 12 regular-season contests remaining.
Expanding on their light-hearted take of the exchange during the series opener, Dodgers players were wearing ‘#DontLookAtMe’ t-shirts in the clubhouse on Tuesday afternoon.
Adrian Gonzalez was first to post a picture on his Twitter account:
#DONTLOOKATME ? pic.twitter.com/tlEcc8RY08
— Adrián González (@Adrian_ElTitan) September 20, 2016
Puig soon after followed suit, via Twitter:
#PuigYourFriend #DontLookAtMe ? #Puignotlookingatyou ? @JDL_87 @Adrian_ElTitan pic.twitter.com/2r1JULNyMK
— Yasiel Puig (@YasielPuig) September 20, 2016
The ‘don’t look at me’ phrase is what Bumgarner said Monday night, which sparked the altercation. It’s also what the fiery left-hander told Puig after hitting him with a pitch during a September 2014 game.
Justin Turner, who joked Bumgarner and Puig likely enjoy breakfast together, said he isn’t concerned over the Giants potentially taking issue with the shirts.
Although he’d yet to see them, Roberts also downplayed the possibility of the shirts stirring up emotions. “Emotions get in the way sometimes. I don’t think there’s anything else to it,” he said.
