San Diego Padres star Manny Machado versus Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts probably wasn’t the beef most fans were expecting during the NLDS between the teams.
The Dodgers and Padres had a very heated contest Sunday in Game 2 of their NLDS matchup at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.
Tensions began to bubble up early as Jurickson Profar teased a few fans after stealing a home run away from Mookie Betts. Later in the game, Dodger fans began throwing things at both Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr.
Machado appears to have done some throwing of his own.
The Padres third baseman allegedly threw a baseball toward the Dodgers’ dugout after the 6th inning. The ball was believed by the Dodgers to have been directed at Roberts.
The incident sparked a heated exchange between Machado and Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty.
Jack Flaherty and Manny Machado are still chirping at each other 😳 pic.twitter.com/CsCa3wqVe4
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 7, 2024
“I didn’t notice at the time,” said Roberts of the incident Monday during a press conference. “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.”
Dave Roberts said there was intent on Machado’s throw at their dugout
“It was unsettling… Didn’t hit me because there was a net. If it was intended at me it’s disrespectful. I don’t know his intent… The ball was directed at me with something behind it” pic.twitter.com/V2HzLTuIwC
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 8, 2024
Machado told reporters after the game that he was chirping with Flaherty because the pitcher hit Tatis earlier in the inning. Tatis was 2-for-2 with a home run and a double off Flaherty before the HBP.
The Padres blew the game wide open in the last two innings. San Diego scored six total runs to close the game and evened the series with a 10-2 win.
