The San Diego Padres have reminded their fans about their strict policy against bad behavior ahead of Game 3 of the NL Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This comes after some heated moments both on the field and in the stands during Game 2 at Dodger Stadium.
In that game, there was a 12-minute delay when fans started throwing baseballs toward San Diego left fielder Jurickson Profar and littered the outfield with trash.
Profar had just made a great catch to stop a home run by Mookie Betts and taunted the fans by looking at them and jumping up and down before tossing the ball back to the infield.
There were also several exchanges of harsh words between Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty and Padres third baseman Manny Machado. This included incidents after Flaherty hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch and after he struck out Machado.
The Padres won the game 6-5 in front of a record crowd of 47,744 at Petco Park, giving them a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series. Tatis hit a big two-run home run during a six-run second inning.
Game 4 is set for Wednesday night, where the Padres have a chance to eliminate the Dodgers from the NLDS for the second time in three years.
In a statement sent to season ticket holders and shared on social media, Padres team president Erik Greupner thanked fans for creating a strong home-field advantage while emphasizing that anyone who throws objects onto the field or makes offensive remarks will be removed from the game.
“Our game is at its best when our players and fans give everything they have for their team and city while showing respect and sportsmanship towards players and fans of the opposing team,” Greupner stated. “There is never an excuse for abusive speech or behavior towards others at Petco Park.”
“As we continue our push for a World Series championship, our team needs you more than ever,” Greupner added. “Please continue to cheer for the Padres with all you have while showing class and good sportsmanship to those around you.”
The Padres set a club record by attracting 3,314,593 fans to their downtown ballpark this season, achieving 56 sellouts out of 80 games. They gave up one home game to play a two-game series in Seoul, South Korea, against the Dodgers.
On Monday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed that it was “bothersome” and “unsettling” that a ball Machado threw into the Dodgers dugout seemed aimed at him during the Padres’ 10-2 victory the night before. Machado explained that he was simply throwing a ball after infield warmups between innings.
When asked about Roberts’ comments, Padres manager Mike Shildt said he would never speak negatively about a player from another team or the entire team.
“That’s not how I want to operate,” Shildt said several hours before the start of Game 3. “I have a lot of respect for their club, the players on their club.”
After the seventh inning on Sunday night, Machado called for a quick team huddle in the dugout to keep the Padres focused. In the next two innings, they scored six more runs and hit four of their six home runs, including a second one by Tatis.
“As far as Manny goes, it’s unfortunate people can’t move on from things from the past,” Shildt said. “I thought Manny’s exhibition of professionalism and leadership were on display the other night in a very tough environment.
He nor I nor anyone would profess to be perfect, but Manny has made some strides that are very impressive both on and off the field. It’s been a privilege to witness that.”
Machado was traded from Baltimore to the Dodgers on July 18, 2018, and was part of the team that lost to Boston in the World Series. In Game 2 of the NL Championship Series, he didn’t run hard on a ground ball. He later mentioned he was “not the type of player that’s going to be ‘Johnny Hustle.’”
Machado still gets booed at Dodger Stadium. He signed with the Padres as a free agent the following spring training and is now loved by fans in San Diego.
“Regardless of what happened, we’re here for one task and one task at hand,” rookie Jackson Merrill said. “Manny has been a really good leader. He’s done a really good job keeping us focused on that one thing.
I don’t think any of us view him in a different way besides being a leader.” Dodgers infielder Max Muncy said the atmosphere at Petco Park in recent years “has been tops in baseball. I wouldn’t expect anything different.”
When asked if the Padres are trying to annoy the Dodgers, Muncy said the energy at Petco affects the players’ emotions.
“Even in regular-season games, just something as simple as a single and you see the guy throwing the bat 30 feet in the air, that really gets the crowd going here,” Muncy said.
“That is kind of part of their game is trying to get under your skin and trying to have the emotion come out and get you to do something that you’re not normally doing.”
Muncy added that a pitcher might see that “and all of a sudden you want to throw harder and now you’re missing balls right over the plate, and that’s when their guys are doing the damage.”
“It’s easier said than done, obviously, but you can’t let that happen,” Muncy said.
