During Game 2 of the National League Division Series, San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado threw a ball towards the Dodgers dugout, almost hitting manager Dave Roberts. Roberts expressed that he found the incident unsettling, as the ball was directed at him with some force behind it. The sequence occurred after Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty struck out Machado and shouted expletives at him the inning before. Witnesses reported that Machado’s throw came as the Padres were warming up defensively for the bottom half of the inning, and the ball was one-hopped into the wall of netting near where Roberts was seated.
Machado claimed that the throw was intended as a routine toss for a ball boy, framing it as something he does regularly. However, Roberts expressed that if the throw was intentionally targeting him, it was disrespectful. The confrontation arose after Flaherty hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a sinker, prompting Machado to confront Flaherty from the on-deck circle. Flaherty denies hitting Tatis on purpose, as it was a close game at the time, and Tatis also dismissed the notion of intentional targeting in such an important series. However, Machado believed Flaherty was purposefully targeting Tatis, their best hitter, and expressed his displeasure postgame.
After the heated exchange between Machado and Flaherty, the tensions escalated further when Machado threw the ball towards the Dodgers dugout. Flaherty was seen yelling at Machado from the dugout in response to the incident, with other Dodgers players becoming animated as well. Many Dodgers team members disagreed with Machado’s claim that the throw was innocent, raising concerns about potential injuries if the ball had hit someone. Subsequently, Major League Baseball requested video footage of the incident from the Dodgers’ security staff, as the broadcast did not capture the incident.
Roberts, who had previously managed Machado during his time with the Dodgers, expressed disappointment at the incident. He highlighted the need for players to conduct themselves appropriately on the field and avoid escalating tensions unnecessarily. Machado, on the other hand, seemed eager to move on from the situation and focus on the upcoming games. The incident at Dodger Stadium during Game 2 of the National League Division Series underscored the intensity and emotions that can sometimes boil over in high-stakes playoff matchups.
Despite the altercation between Machado and Flaherty, both parties expressed a desire to have handled the situation differently in hindsight. Flaherty admitted that he could have kept his emotions in check better, while Roberts acknowledged his disappointment at the turn of events. The incident, which included Machado throwing a ball at the Dodgers dugout, exemplified the heightened tensions and rivalries that can unfold during postseason baseball. As the series continued, both teams faced the challenge of maintaining composure and focusing on the games ahead amidst the lingering animosity from the previous game.
