Video Surfaces Of Manny Machado 'Throwing' Ball At Dodgers Dugout
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Tensions have quickly flared during a rivalry National League Division Series between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.
San Diego evened the best-of-five series with a runaway 10-2 win on Sunday night, but most of the headlines stemmed from extracurricular activity. Before beginning the bottom of the sixth inning, Padres third baseman Manny Machado exchanged words with Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty from the dugout. Flaherty said he was responding to Machado throwing a baseball at them.
On Monday night, Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune posted footage from the incident. Following Yu Darvish's warmup pitches, Machado tossed the ball in the direction of Los Angeles' dugout. Heilbrunn said the ball bounced off the rail and onto the field.
The video shows a Dodgers ball boy retrieving the ball as the team angrily reacts in the dugout.
Here is video of Manny Machado throwing the ball toward the #Dodgers dugout. The ball had just been used by Yu Darvish to warm up. Kyle Higashioka's throw to second bounced in the dirt, so Darvish received a new ball to begin the inning. #Padrespic.twitter.com/Wkf1L4Pff5
— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) October 8, 2024
When discussing the incident on Monday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts' called Machado's throw "unsettling."
"Obviously I have a relationship with Manny from years past. There was intent behind it," Roberts said, per ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. "It didn't almost hit me because there was a net. And that was very bothersome. If it was intended at me, I would be very -- it's pretty disrespectful. So, 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. But I don't know what led to that."
This wasn't the only heated moment on Sunday. Machado took issue with Flaherty hitting Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch, and a lengthy delay ensued when fans threw objects onto the field at Jurickson Profar. Earlier in the game, the Padres outfielder taunted Dodgers fans after robbing Mookie Betts of a home run.
The series shifts to San Diego for a pivotal Game 3 on Tuesday night.
Related: Dodgers Fans Ripped For 'Deplorable' Behavior During Game 2
