Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts expressed that it was “bothersome” and “unsettling” when San Diego’s third baseman Manny Machado appeared to throw a ball directly aimed at him during the Padres’ commanding 10-2 victory in Game 2 of their NL Division Series. The game was marked by heightened emotions both on the field and among the fans at Dodger Stadium.
This incident was one of several that ignited tensions during the game, leading to a heated exchange of words between Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty and Machado. The Padres leveled the series against the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani at 1-1, fueled by an impressive six home runs, including two from Fernando Tatis Jr. Tatis’ frustration stemmed from being hit by a pitch from Flaherty, which further incensed Machado. Flaherty also directed some heated remarks at Machado after striking him out with two runners on base in the sixth inning.
Roberts admitted he didn’t see Machado’s throw in real-time but later reviewed video footage of the incident. “It was unsettling… And the ball was directed at me with something behind it,” he noted.
Fortunately for Roberts, the ball did not strike him, thanks to the protective netting surrounding the dugout.
“That was very bothersome. If it was intended at me, I would be very — it’s pretty disrespectful,” Roberts commented before the Dodgers’ evening workout at Petco Park, where the series is set to continue in front of a packed crowd.
Third base umpire Tripp Gibson had a conversation with Machado regarding the incident. However, Roberts felt that the exchange was inappropriate, stating, “I don’t think they should have had a little arm-around-each-other conversation. If players can throw balls at opposing managers, you know.”
The game faced a 12-minute delay as unruly fans threw baseballs toward San Diego’s left fielder Jurickson Profar, followed by debris onto the field. Profar had previously made a spectacular catch, robbing Mookie Betts of a home run, and taunted the fans by staring at them and jumping up and down before tossing the ball back to the infield.
Flaherty expressed his frustration after the game, stating, “Machado did some s— in between innings. He threw a ball at our dugout. There was no reason for that.”
In response to Flaherty’s claims, Machado defended himself, saying, “I throw balls all the time into dugouts. Both dugouts. They have bad balls, you throw the ball back in there.”
Roberts made his remarks shortly after Machado addressed the media, reflecting on the escalating tensions.
Flaherty later acknowledged, “I wish I had held it together a little bit better.” He recognized the emotional stakes of playoff baseball, stating, “There’s a lot of emotion. I think it got out of hand yesterday with everybody from me and him to the fans getting involved.”
He added, “After that happens and he throws a ball, I wish he would have just let it go. The umpires did their job. They stepped in and talked to him. That’s not how I want things to go. We want to keep things on the field and focus on the game.”
Flaherty, who has ties to the Los Angeles area, was acquired from the Detroit Tigers on July 30.
“I’m not trying to be that player that’s going back and forth with somebody in the dugout,” Flaherty concluded. “I was done. Things were said, it’s hard to hear. We’ve got to do a better job of getting things done on the field.”
