Bobby Miller puts former Dodger Zach McKinstry in his place after heated HBP moment
Don't mess with Bobby Miller, that's all.
![Detroit Tigers v Los Angeles Dodgers](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2952,h_1660,x_0,y_146/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/75/01havwg1jdbe5s9vh95y.jpg)
The Los Angeles Dodgers couldn't pull off the sweep against the Detroit Tigers with Bobby Miller on the mound Wednesday night, but they won the series and made sure to remain on their toes with the postseason around the corner.
Miller hurled a quality start, surrendering just two earned runs on three hits and a walk whiling striking out seven over six innings. A Max Muncy error in the sixth and Evan Phillips allowing an earned run in the seventh extended Detroit's lead in what was an eventual 4-2 win for the Tigers.
Sounds like a relatively boring game, but former Dodger Zach McKinstry and Miller briefly got into it in the top of the third when Miller plunked McKinstry with a 99 MPH fastball.
It was very clearly unintentional given there were runners on first and second with nobody out and McKinstry in an 0-1 count. But a heater got away from Miller and McKinstry got drilled in the shoulder. As he was taking off his elbow guard, he had some words for Miller.
And Miller didn't hesitate for a moment to put McKinstry in his place. Any lip readers out there? Care to decipher this? You'll like what you think you're hearing.
Bobby Miller to Zach McKinstry:
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) September 21, 2023
“Man shut the f*** up that wasn’t on purpose.”
Bobby Miller wants ALL the smoke 🔥
pic.twitter.com/38MrL8t9th
Bobby Miller puts former Dodger Zach McKinstry in his place after heated HBP moment
Miller struck out McKinstry in the other two at-bats, so, yeah, what Miller said. In the first inning, Miller went up and in on McKinstry, which is why the Tigers infielder gestured "that's twice," but that's surely not enough to rally the troops and start a heated back and forth. What reason does Miller have to throw at a .227 hitter with a .643 OPS? None.
Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis knew that too, as he calmly and nonchalantly had a hilarious call when informing the viewers what was happening in this exact moment.
Bobby Miller hits Zach McKinstry, they exchange words and Joe Davis nails the lips reading 😂 pic.twitter.com/IRLi9gejUK
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 21, 2023
The Tigers only got one run on a sac fly with the bases loaded and nobody out, so we'll call that a win for Miller on the field and in the trash talking department.
The right-hander proved yet again he's ready for a Game 1 playoff start despite the loss, and he also showed Dave Roberts he possesses the necessary fire and edge in this moment with McKinstry.