SAN DIEGO — A night after the San Diego Padres’ Jurickson Profar delivered a walk-off hit and attracted the ire of the Washington Nationals as he celebrated near the visiting dugout, tempers flared between the teams in a benches-clearing incident that preceded more dramatics.
In the bottom of the first inning Tuesday at Petco Park, Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz confronted Profar and put a hand on his shoulder just before the Padres left fielder’s plate appearance. San Diego third baseman Manny Machado, who was on deck, got in between the two players and put a hand on Ruiz’s shoulder, whereupon both benches and bullpens cleared. Some jostling and more jawing ensued, although no punches were thrown.
With order briefly restored, home-plate umpire Brian Walsh issued warnings to both clubs. MacKenzie Gore then hit Profar in the back foot with a first-pitch fastball but was not ejected. Padres manager Mike Shildt stormed onto the field and was promptly ejected by third-base umpire Adam Hamari.
Benches cleared between the Nationals and Padres in the first inning after words were exchanged between Manny Machado, Jurickson Profar and Keibert Ruiz
Profar was then hit by the next pitch and Mike Shildt was ejected pic.twitter.com/rfWzV2UKXQ
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The early-game action continued to escalate. Moments after Shildt retreated to the clubhouse, Gore’s first pitch to Machado arrived over the plate, and the infielder launched it for a two-run homer to left. Profar gestured to the crowd as he took his time circling the bases in front of Machado.
The scene recalled the bottom of the 10th in Monday’s series opener. With the Padres trailing by a run and down to their final out, the Nationals intentionally walked Luis Arraez to load the bases and bring Profar to the plate. Profar, who later said he felt “disrespected” by the move, was irritated further when he went to the ground to avoid a high-and-tight fastball from reliever Hunter Harvey. Profar subsequently drove a two-run single to right-center and gestured demonstratively as his teammates mobbed him not far from the Nationals’ dugout.
Although Profar said afterward he had been directing his celebration toward the crowd, his actions drew long looks from some Washington players as they lingered in the dugout.
Less than 24 hours later, the dramatics resumed with both sides having a say. Two innings after the benches cleared and Machado homered, the Nationals took the lead with a four-run frame that was punctuated by a Jesse Winker home run. The Padres retook the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run single by Donovan Solano.
(Photo of Ruiz: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)
