MLB playoffs: Padres’ win over Dodgers delayed after fans throw baseballs at Profar
Fans at Dodger Stadium threw baseballs and trash, causing a twelve-minute delay during the seventh inning of San Diego’s victory over Los Angeles on Sunday evening. The baseballs were apparently aimed at Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar during a fiery NL Division Series Game 2.
The tension arose when Profar robbed Mookie Betts of a home run in the first inning. As Betts circled the bases, Profar jumped up and down for several seconds, pretending he had failed to secure the ball, before showing the crowd that he had caught it. Then, in the sixth inning, Dodgers starter Jack Flaherty Fernando Tatis Jr. plummeted. Profar and LA catcher Will Smith, who called Profar “irrelevant” earlier this season, after which a brief confrontation at home plate ensued.
The hostility then spread to the crowd. With San Diego leading 4-1 and Yu Darvish warming up for the bottom of the seventh, fans appeared to yell at Profar and a ball was thrown from the crowd. A heated Profar spoke to the officials about the situation as his teammates and coaches gathered protectively around him. As the players returned to their positions, a number of objects appeared to be thrown in Tatis’ direction.
Dodgers security personnel attempted to identify the fans causing the trouble and gathered along the foul lines. Fans were also told by the announcer not to throw objects on the field.
“We gave the people a show and it seemed like they were getting a little upset … but this is the playoffs and this is the environment we were built for,” Tatis said after the game.
He added that the team did not feel they were in any real danger.
“We have very good security here, I’m thankful for that,” said Tatis, who hit two of the Padres’ six home runs that night.
The hostile atmosphere didn’t seem to intimidate the Padres, who ran out 10-2 winners, with six of their runs coming after the delay. The best-of-five series is tied at 1-1 as the teams head to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday.
In Sunday’s other game, Nick Castellanos ripped a game-winning two-out single from Tylor Megill, which scored Trea Turner and sent the Philadelphia Phillies to a dazzling 7-6 victory over the New York Metsand evened their NL Division Series at one game apiece. Castellanos threw away his helmet and was mobbed by teammates in the infield as a game that seemed to be slipping away an inning earlier culminated in a comeback victory for the NL East champions.