The Sunday night showdown between the Padres and the Dodgers was briefly halted after a baseball appeared to be thrown from the crowd towards San Diego star Jurickson Profar.
The outfielder had taunted Los Angeles fans earlier in the night after diving into the crowd to take a spectacular catch.
But at the bottom of the seventh inning, tempers began to fray at Dodger Stadium. A furious Profar could be seen berating supporters before a ball – hurled from the stand – landed near the 31-year-old. Officials then intervened as the Padres star continued his angry outburst.
Teammates and umpires surrounded Profar in an attempt to calm him down. As Padres players gathered to support Profar in centerfield, a message went out over the stadium speaker: ‘We ask that you do not throw objects on to the field.’
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That prompted boos around Dodger Stadium. The game was then delayed as security officials and umpires swarmed the field in Los Angeles.
Reports also claimed that other objects were thrown from the crowd, with Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr said to have been targeted by bottles. Fan footage, posted to social media, appeared to show Tatis Jr taunting fans in the crowd before he was led away by members of stadium security.
Unexpected Disruption During Padres-Dodgers Playoff Game:
The Padres led 4-1 at the time of the stoppage before the visitors added three more runs in the eighth inning. The Dodgers won the opening game of the series on Saturday.
The Padres-Dodgers playoff game was unexpectedly delayed after a fan hurled a baseball at San Diego star Jurickson Profar.
The event occurred during the game, resulting in a brief halt while officials addressed the matter. Security promptly removed the fan, and after a little break, the game began.
Although no injuries were recorded, the disturbance caused alarm among both sides. Moments like these emphasize the necessity of maintaining safety and sportsmanship during high-stakes games.
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Machado accused Flaherty of purposely body-shotting batter Fernando Tatis with his pitch, which is called as ‘plunking’.
The act enraged the home fans, and the game was called off in the seventh inning after a fan threw a baseball at Profar. As Profar attempted to warn the umpire, another was thrown at him.
Fan Incident: Baseball Thrown Toward Jurickson Profar
Profar was led away from the home crowd by security, and the Padres outfield players huddled as a group, but as they dispersed, Dodgers fans hurled beer at him.
“There’s a lot to say,” said Dodgers starter Flaherty.
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“First, supporters should never get involved. There is no cause to hurl anything at players, regardless of what is going on.”
Tatis added, “It was definitely wild out there, but it’s also a good environment for baseball.”
“People get carried away with their emotions, but it’s a wonderful exchange. “It is a show.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented, “I’ve seen over 1,000 games here – well over 1,000 games in a ballpark – and I’ve never seen anything like that.”
The Padres won Game 2 10-2, tying the best-of-five series at one game each.
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The Padres remain led by a star-studded core that includes Machado, Darvish, Tatis, Xander Bogaerts, and Joe Musgrove. However, Preller found methods to enhance the team on a short budget, trading for frontline starter Dylan Cease in March and signing two-time batting champion Luis Arraez in May.
Along the way, players such as Jurickson Profar (signed for $1 million), Jackson Merrill (a 21-year-old rookie transitioning to center field), and Jeremiah Estrada (claimed off waivers before turning into a dominant reliever) made unexpected contributions that helped the 2024 Padres become one of the most well-rounded teams in baseball.
“No one counted us in,” Machado stated. “So here we are. It is a credit to the team. The coaching and training personnel keep us healthy. It is an awesome moment, man. This is an unbelievable moment. However, I believe the entire crew here believes that the task is not complete. We’re going to enjoy tonight, this game, and the celebration, but the work isn’t done.”