Padres-Dodgers delayed after fans throw objects

LOS ANGELES – The start of Sunday’s bottom of the seventh inning was delayed and close to two-dozen security guards lined the foul lines of Dodger Stadium after fans threw objects onto the field in Game 2 of the NLDS, further escalating tensions between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the division-rival San Diego Padres.

Two baseballs were thrown in the direction of Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar, who in the first inning had some fun with the fans by reaching into the stands to rob Mookie Betts of a home run and spending some time showing them up before revealing he had secured the baseball.

Profar got into a heated discussion with umpires after two baseballs came dangerously close to him in the seventh, prompting all of the Padres’ players, along with manager Mike Shildt, to come onto the field and gather around him. Moments later, as defensive players positioned themselves back into their spots, three objects were thrown into the right-field warning track in the direction of Fernando Tatis Jr.

The tension began on the field, when Dodgers starting pitcher Jack Flaherty plunked Tatis in the left side with an 0-1 sinker to begin the sixth inning. Flaherty briefly apologized, but Profar and Dodgers catcher Will Smith, who made headlines earlier in the season by calling Profar “irrelevant,” then exchanged words at home plate.

Moments later, Flaherty struck out Manny Machado, yelled towards him and motioned him back to the dugout. Machado was made aware of Flaherty’s comments as he approached the dugout railing and stared him down as he was removed from the game immediately thereafter. Machado and Flaherty continued to jaw at one another when Machado came back out for defense in the top of the seventh.

The fans then got involved, prompting a nine-minute delay.