San Diego Padres star Manny Machado and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts found themselves at the center of unexpected drama during Game 2 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) on Sunday. While most fans were focused on the heated playoff action between the two teams, tensions between Machado and Roberts escalated, adding another layer of intensity to an already charged contest at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers and Padres clashed in what turned into a fiery matchup, marked by competitive moments and fan involvement.
Early in the game, Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar heightened the atmosphere by making a spectacular catch, robbing Mookie Betts of a home run. Profar’s celebration didn’t sit well with Dodgers fans, who responded by throwing objects at both Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr., further stoking the flames of tension.
However, it was Machado’s actions after the sixth inning that caught the most attention. The Padres third baseman allegedly threw a baseball toward the Dodgers’ dugout, with the Dodgers believing the ball was directed at manager Dave Roberts. The incident went largely unnoticed in real-time, but video footage later revealed the moment, prompting a reaction from Roberts during a press conference on Monday.
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“I didn’t notice at the time,” Roberts said when asked about the incident. “I really didn’t. I did see the video. It was unsettling. … 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, it’s pretty disrespectful. 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.”
While Roberts expressed his discomfort with the incident, Machado offered a different perspective. Speaking to reporters after the game, Machado said that the heated exchange stemmed from his frustration with Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty, who had hit Tatis earlier in the inning.
According to Machado, his interaction with Flaherty was a result of that hit-by-pitch, as Tatis had been having a strong game, going 2-for-2 with a home run and a double off Flaherty before being plunked.
The brief confrontation between Machado and Flaherty added to the tense atmosphere of the game, which eventually swung in the Padres’ favor. San Diego broke the game wide open in the final innings, scoring six runs to secure a commanding 10-2 victory, leveling the series at 1-1.
While the on-field action was intense, the alleged incident involving Machado and Roberts has become a major talking point, overshadowing some of the other elements of the game.
As the NLDS progresses, it remains to be seen if any further tensions will arise between the two teams or if the focus will shift entirely back to the baseball being played on the field.
For now, however, Machado’s supposed gesture toward Roberts has added yet another layer to the longstanding rivalry between the Padres and the Dodgers.
