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Heated Padres-Dodgers series moves south with increased police presence after Game 2 fireworks, Dave Roberts-Manny Machado ball drama

jason owens
Staff writer
·7 min read

After a heated Game 2 in Los Angeles, the NLDS is moving to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday, with an increased police presence and a message from the Padres urging fans to "stay classy."

The Padres tied the series with the Dodgers 1-1 with a 10-2 victory Sunday in a game that saw a 10-minute delay after fans in the Dodger Stadium stands threw items on the field in the direction of Padres outfielders Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr.

A new layer of drama surfaced Monday, when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts accused Padres third baseman Manny Machado of throwing a baseball at the Dodgers' dugout during the game with "intent." Video has surfaced showing Machado throwing a ball toward the dugout.

On Tuesday, the San Diego Police Department announced that it would maintain an increased presence around Petco Park for Tuesday's game in the aftermath of the drama in L.A., with tensions running high not just between the teams but among their fans as well.

"We are gonna have an increased presence," San Diego Police Captain Wes Morris said, per 10 News San Diego. "... Enjoy the excitement, but maintain your self control. We don't want some lack of indiscretion, your actions, to bleed over beyond nine innings and have ramifications the next day."

The Padres, meanwhile, have sent an email to ticket holders from CEO Erik Greupner thanking them for their support — alongside a warning that unruly behavior won't be tolerated.

"There is never an excuse for abusive speech or behavior towards others at Petco Park," Greupner's email reads. "Our Guest Code of Conduct can be found here. It contains a zero-tolerance policy for any violations, including throwing items onto the field or making offensive, foul, or abusive comments to anyone.

"Any guest who violates our Code of Conduct will be immediately ejected from Petco Park, without refund."

Padres manager Mike Shildt added a message urging fans to "stay classy."

“I know we’re about to go back to San Diego with a very, very loud, raucous, aggressive, hungry crowd that’s going to be super excited and going to be getting after it," Shildt said. "But I know also that we’ll stay classy, San Diego.”

Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar exchanges words with Dodgers catcher Will Smith after Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar exchanges words with Dodgers catcher Will Smith after Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch on Sunday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

The drama ratcheted up in the seventh inning of Sunday's game. Profar, who earlier taunted fans after reaching over the left-field wall to rob Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts of a home run, was involved in a heated verbal interaction with fans in the bleachers.

A fan then threw a baseball from the stands at Profar.

The incident preceded a 10-minute delay that included multiple warnings from the Dodgers' public address announcer urging fans to not throw items on the field. Fans in right field had also thrown bottles on the field in the direction of Tatis.

An inning earlier, Machado was seen jawing from his position at third base with Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, who was in the dugout. Flaherty had hit Tatis with a pitch an inning earlier.

On Monday, video surfaced of Machado throwing a ball toward the Dodgers dugout before Shohei Ohtani came up to bat to lead off the half-inning.

Roberts told reporters Monday that he didn't realize at the time that Machado had thrown the ball, but he said he saw the video and found the incident "unsettling."

"I didn't notice it at the time," Roberts said. "I did see the video. It was unsettling. Obviously, I have a relationship with Manny from years past.

"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, I'd be very — it's pretty disrespectful. I don't know his intent. I don't want to speak for him. I did see the video, and the ball was directed at me with something behind it."

A new angle of Machado's ball toss toward the dugout surfaced Tuesday.

Machado downplayed the incident when speaking with reporters on Sunday.

“I throw balls all the time into dugouts,” Machado said. “Both dugouts. They have foul balls, you throw the ball back in there.”

He then changed the subject back to Flaherty hitting Tatis: “When you try to hit our best hitter, right — get him out. If you can’t get him out, don’t hit him.”

ESPN reports that MLB has reached out to Dodgers security staff for footage, but discipline related to the incident is unlikely.

Shildt addressed Roberts' comments in his pregame news conference on Tuesday.

"I'm not nor will I ever disparage another player on another team, especially anybody I've managed in the past," Shildt said. "Nor will I do it to a collective team.

"That's not how I want to operate. I've got a lot of respect for their club, the players on their club. As far as Manny goes, it's unfortunate people can't move on from things from the past. I thought Manny's exhibition of professionalism and leadership were on display the other night in a very tough environment. ...

"None of us are perfect. But I can speak to the heart of caring about people and players. I've been with teams for a long time that represent themselves with class and dignity. I don't have to defend this team. This team does not need my defense. Nor do our players need to defend themselves."

The Dodgers and Padres are longtime NL West rivals who play in Southern California cities separated by 120 miles. The tension between the teams and their fan bases is always simmering, but it's now boiling over, with the stakes amped up and the teams playing their third postseason series in five years.

Profar, who found himself at the center of that increased tension Sunday, urged fans not to turn up the heat any further in San Diego.

“I can’t wait to play in front of our fans,” Profar said Sunday. “I urge them not to throw stuff. We just play baseball and play a fun game for our fans.”