The National League Division Series matchup between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers took a dramatic turn during their recent game, leading to an unexpected delay. A series of events unfolded on the field, sparking tensions and leading to a halt in play.
So, why was Padres-Dodgers game delayed? Here is everything to know about it.
Why was Padres-Dodgers game delayed?
The San Diego Padres’ playoff game against the Los Angeles Dodgers experienced a nearly 10-12-minute delay. This was due to fan interference, which escalated tensions between the teams. The incident occurred during the seventh inning when Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar angered Dodgers fans after making an impressive catch leaning over the advertising boards on a deep fly ball hit by Mookie Betts. His celebration, which involved making eye contact with the home crowd, sparked a backlash from fans.
The situation had already been heating up earlier in the game. Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty and Padres star Manny Machado exchanged heated words following an incident. Machado accused Flaherty of intentionally hitting teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch. The conflict came to a head in the seventh inning when a fan threw a baseball in Profar’s direction. While he approached the umpire to report the incident, another baseball was thrown at him. Security escorted Profar away from the hostile crowd as more things, including beer cans, were thrown his way.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented on the unusual scene. He stated, “I’ve seen over a thousand games here — well over a thousand games in this ballpark. And I’ve never seen anything like that.” The Padres regrouped during the delay and ultimately won over the Dodgers with a decisive 10-2 victory.
Padres manager Mike Shildt commented, “A hostile environment. What I got out of it was a bunch of dudes that showed up in front of a big, hostile crowd with stuff being thrown at them and said, ‘We’re going to talk with our play. We’re not going to back down — we’re going to elevate our game, we’re going to be together and we’re going to take care of business.'” (via ESPN)
After winning Game 2 on Sunday, Padres evened the series at 1-1.
