Manny Machado is becoming the most hated man in Los Angeles during the MLB playoffs.
After being the focal point of a controversial throw toward the Dodgers’ dugout that infuriated opposing manager Dave Roberts in Game 2, Machado helped spearhead a six-run second inning for San Diego in its 6-5 victory in Game 3 that now has Dodgers on the brink of elimination.
Machado led off the inning with a single before NL Rookie of the Year candidate Jackson Merrill hit a potential double-play ball to first baseman Freddie Freeman.
Freeman went to his knees to scoop the ball and then fired toward second, but Machado changed his running trajectory and moved onto the grass.
His veering to the left put him right in the line of Freeman’s throw, which hit his helmet and bounced into left field. Freeman received a throwing error on the play, while Machado advanced to third base.
Instead of two outs and no one on, the Padres had runners on the corners with no outs while trailing, 1-0.
The broadcast crew noticed the “vet move,” with Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz saying Freeman made an excellent diving play but Machado “did step inside the baseline a little bit.”
Roberts noted that he could not challenge Machado’s base running and called it a “heady” maneuver.
Padres manager Mike Shildt praised his veteran for knowing the situation.
“Really good baseball play,” Shildt said. “Basically, the base runner can create his own baseline until there’s an actual an attempted play on him. So at that point, you can run inside the line just like he did and force a throw to be like it is. You can do it from any base.
“As soon as the fielder has to make an attempt to a play, now the baseline has been established and you can go from there.”
The play by Machado has drawn the ire of Dodgers fans, but team completely unraveled after the play.
Los Angeles would make another mistake on the next batter, as Xander Bogaerts hit a grounder to shortstop that easily could’ve been a double play as well but instead resulted in zero outs.
Fernando Tatis Jr. capped the inning with a three-run homer that gave the Padres a 6-1 lead.
That Machado was involved in such a controversial play only added to the fire since Roberts was already furious with their third baseman for throwing a ball near him during Game 2.
The Dodgers sent the tape to the league office for review, and Roberts called the throw “disrespectful.”
The intense series continues Wednesday, where the Padres have a chance to close the series and advance to the NLCS, where they would face the winner of Phillies-Mets.
San Diego turns to Dylan Cease on short rest, while the Dodgers will go with bullpen game in a must-win situation.
Their rotation has been depleted with injuries to stars Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow and ineffectiveness from others, and they passed on starting Yoshinobu Yamamoto on short rest.
