SAN DIEGO – You probably didn’t have the Padres-Nationals as a burgeoning, must-see rivalry. But you should do it now.
The benches cleared before Profar’s first at-bat in the first inning Tuesday night — and that was just the beginning of the drama at Petco Park. Profar was waived, Padres manager Mike Shildt was forced out, Manny Machado and Jesse Winker green-lighted. Then Profar himself put an exclamation point on the proceedings with a decisive grand slam in San Diego’s 9-7 victory.
“Baseball gods, man,” Machado said with a laugh.
The drama began a night earlier. On Monday, Profar capped a wild four-run rally in the 10th inning with a single. The Nationals had opted to intentionally walk Luis Arraez to load the bases and throw to Profar instead. During that at-bat, Washington reliever Hunter Harvey came in loud and clear with an 0-2 fastball, knocking down Profar. After the match, Profar was quick to say he felt “disrespected.”
When Profar left, he celebrated in the center of the infield grass and gestured animatedly toward the Washington dugout, although he later said he was pumping up the crowd. The Nationals didn’t take it that way.
Let’s go back to Tuesday. When Profar arrived at the plate, he was greeted by the words of Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz. Ruiz said he hadn’t planned to say anything to Profar, but it happened in the moment, with adrenaline in the ballpark. Machado, on deck at the time, stepped between the two. But not before the shelters and enclosures are already cleared.
“We were just having a conversation about what he did yesterday, but it wasn’t anything really crazy,” Ruiz said. “We’re not going to knock him because it’s bad for him — he’s having a good season, he’s having a great year. But I feel like I just have to let him know that he needs to show us some respect.”
Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Ruiz, who signed an eight-year contract before last season: “He felt like he needed to say something. Honestly, I was proud of him. I really was. Sometimes we keep our emotions in mind, sometimes we swallow them. But I like the fact that he stood up for our guys. »
Profar reiterated that he did not mean to disrespect the Nationals in any of his celebrations. As for extracurricular activities, he said, “I still don’t care about that kind of thing. I like playing baseball.”
The incident itself didn’t amount to much, other than a few heated conversations. However, once tensions had subsided and both benches were warned, MacKenzie Gore’s first pitch was a fastball to Profar’s foot.
Martinez and Gore said it was unintentional. And after the game, the Padres mostly agreed.
“I was like, ‘Uh oh,’ just because it happened right after everything,” Gore said.
Shildt, unhappy that Gore had not been expelled, quickly appeared for discussion and had himself executed. He argued that a blow by blow immediately after a warning should be grounds for immediate expulsion. Team leader Adam Hamari didn’t want to.
“We didn’t think it was intentional,” Hamari said in a pool report. “…In order to eject a pitcher in this situation, we have to consider it intentional. This was not the case.”
Gore, one of the Padres’ top prospects, stayed in the game — and Machado launched his next pitch into the left field seats for a two-run homer.
Petco Park exploded. Machado practically walked to first base. Profar practically sprinted to third base, then celebrated again in front of the Nationals dugout, although this time he clearly waved to the fans.
“I loved it,” Profar said. “It shows the things we have in this clubhouse. We have a very good team and we support each other.
The Padres’ early lead was short-lived. Washington rallied for a four-run third inning, capped by Winker’s go-ahead run. Winker, who received boos at each of his at-bats after being spotted chomping at the bit with a Padres fan the night before, strutted through the first base bag after his ball left the yard .
“Emotions run high when everyone is competing,” Winker said. “It’s baseball. People are excited; people are passionate. We all play for our families, our children, right? So everyone is going to play differently, and that’s perfect. I am also an emotional player. So I understand it.”
Machado added: “It’s more like a playoff game when you have that atmosphere. Both teams go for it. … It’s funny. You just go back and forth, trying to be the bigger boss. It’s good for the game.”
They went back and forth, until Profar came to the plate with one out in the bottom of the sixth and the Padres leading by a run.
A quick refresher on Profar: The Padres took him off the bargain bin during spring training – a one-year, $1 million contract loaded with incentives. Since then, he’s been their most valuable player, their best player, their emotional leader and, frankly, at the center of just about everything — including a similar showdown with the rival Dodgers in Los Angeles in April.
“Every time they hit this bear, this bear comes swinging,” Machado said. “Keep pushing him as much as you want. It carries us a lot when they do it.
Profar has a .317/.410/.488 slash line and currently leads among all National League outfielders in wins above replacement, according to FanGraphs. He’s also leading the All-Star voting, as he attempts to join Tony Gwynn and Dave Winfield as the only Padres outfielders to start an All-Star Game.
On Tuesday, during the sixth round, Profar further strengthened this case. Nationals reliever Derek Law threw a 2-0 cut fastball to the inside half of the plate, and Profar spun on it, sending it just inside the right-field foul pole.
San Diego was on its way to a second straight victory against the Nats, both fueled by Profar. The two teams entered the series separated by a half-game for the final NL Wild Card spot. So far, that’s the Padres’ advantage.
The third round will take place on Wednesday afternoon.
News Source : www.mlb.com
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