Dodgers fans' incident with Jurickson Profar forces stoppage of NLDS Game 2 vs Padres
Things have gotten out of hand.
In the bottom of the first inning of NLDS Game 2 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, Jurickson Profar leaped over the left field wall and robbed Mookie Betts of a home run to preserve his team's 1-0 lead.
After he came down with the ball, he showed up Dodgers fans in that section with some taunting body language. If you've been to Dodger Stadium before, you'd know the fans were probably jawing at him beforehand. And if they weren't, they certainly were after that.
But as the game went on, the situation got worse, and it culminated with a stoppage of play in the bottom of the seventh inning. The situation boiled over and fans started throwing objects on the field, including multiple baseballs hurled in Profar's direction.
Video then surfaced of Fernando Tatis Jr. taunting the right field crowd as the jeers grew louder, and fans lost their cool over there, too.
All in all, it led to a lengthy delay and it was a fairly embarrassing moment for Los Angeles with this game being broadcast on national television. It's also the only ongoing playoff game at the moment.
Dodgers fans' incident with Jurickson Profar forces stoppage of NLDS Game 2 vs Padres
The game was stopped for about 15 minutes as security guards flooded the field of play to ensure the situation didn't worsen. After it all cooled down, Yu Darvish returned to the mound and took care of the Dodgers in the bottom half of the seventh.
Then came the top half of the eighth. Padres rookie Jackson Merrill blasted a two-run homer to left field and extended the Padres' lead to 6-1. Xander Bogaerts drilled a solo shot, going back-to-back to make it 7-1. Barring a miraculous comeback, this is a massive momentum shift with the series headed back to San Diego on Tuesday.
The Dodgers captured Game 1 on Saturday night in dramatic fashion but the Padres struck first and second in that one before unraveling in the fourth inning and failing to cash in with multiple opportunities late. San Diego has become a pest of epic proportions and the Dodgers must figure out a way to neutralize them before it's too late.
Oh yeah, and we have this narrative now. Manny Machado and Jack Flaherty want to fight each other? It's getting real out there. Padres fans may have finally gotten their wish of this becoming the foremost rivalry in the NL West.
And we're probably guaranteed at least two more games of these juggernauts. Don't expect a warm crowd at Petco on Tuesday, Dodgers fans. It's going to be as hostile as it's ever been.