Padres-Dodgers playoff game delayed after fan throws a baseball towards San Diego star Jurickson Profar
Sunday night’s showdown between the Padres and Dodgers was briefly halted after a baseball appeared to be thrown from the crowd toward San Diego star Jurickson Profar.
The outfielder had taunted Los Angeles fans earlier in the evening after diving into the crowd to make a spectacular catch, denying Mookie Betts a home run.
But in the bottom of the seventh inning of the Padres’ 10-2 victory, emotions began to rise at Dodger Stadium. An irate Profar could be seen booing supporters before a ball – hurled from the stands – landed near the 31-year-old.
Officials then intervened as the Padres star continued his rant. Teammates and referees surrounded Profar in an attempt to calm him down.
As the Padres players gathered to support Profar in centerfield, a message went out over the stadium loudspeaker: “We ask that you do not throw objects on the field.”
Jurickson Profar appeared to be the target of a baseball thrown from the crowd on Sunday
The San Diego Padres star was seen swearing at fans during the game against the Dodgers
That caused boos around Dodger Stadium. The game was subsequently postponed as security officials and referees flooded the field in Los Angeles.
Reports also claimed that other objects were thrown from the crowd, with Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. would be targeted by bottles.
Fan footage posted to social media appeared to show Tatis Jr. taunted fans in the crowd before being led away by members of stadium security.
The Padres led 4-1 at the time of the stoppage before scoring three more runs in both the eighth and ninth innings. San Diego went on to win 10-2 to tie the NLDS at one game apiece.
Earlier in the evening, Profar had tantalized Betts and Dodgers fans with a stunning catch. He jumped into the crowd and grabbed the ball among a sea of hands. But the Padres star’s response confused everyone, including Betts.
A ball could be seen being thrown by a fan at Dodger Stadium near the Padres star
An angry Profar had to be restrained by teammates and referees after Sunday’s incident
Fans also reportedly targeted Fernando Tatis Jr, who taunted the LA crowd
Instead of celebrating, Profar bounced up and down and stared at Dodgers fans in the stands. Betts was reportedly already celebrating halfway to third base before it became clear that Profar had made the catch.
“That was always one of my wishes: I want to rob a homer,” he said later. “And I did it in a playoff game. So it was great.’
Saturday night, a vicious brawl reportedly broke out in the stands as the Dodgers fought back to seal a 7-5 victory.
In the play-off thriller, tensions ran high on the field, but the atmosphere also changed among the supporters.
According to the police, a huge fight took place fans on social mediawho claimed the incident took place in the queue in front of him.
Earlier in the game, Profar had dived into the Los Angeles crowd to make a spectacular catch
The 31-year-old then taunted fans at Dodger Stadium after denying Mookie Betts a home run
The San Diego star celebrates after Jackson Merrill extends their lead after the delay
Two Padres fans allegedly punched a Dodgers fan, knocking him unconscious and causing blood to splatter all over the floor.
It was said that the bloodied LA fan had to be helped, while the Padres supporters were said to have been turned away.
Photos shared on social media showed bloodstains on one of the chairs and on the floor.
On the field in Saturday’s opener, Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run home run in his first-ever playoff game.
Five Dodgers relievers, meanwhile, held the Padres scoreless over the final six innings as Los Angeles ended a six-game postseason losing streak.
A vicious brawl reportedly broke out in the stands of Dodger Stadium on Saturday night