Mookie Betts responds to Manny Machado drama in Padres-Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers clapped back at an irritated Manny Machado over Brusdar Graterol’s celebration in Game 2 of the NLDS.

On Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers avoided a nearly catastrophic collapse to hold on and defeat the San Diego Padres 6-5 in Game 2 of the NLDS. The biggest takeaway wasn’t the close game itself. Rather, it surrounded the sparks flying in the top of the seventh inning.

Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. appeared to have launchd a go ahead two-run homer off Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol, until center fielder Cody Bellinger made a spectacular leaping catch to end the inning. After the catch was made, Graterol threw his glove at the Dodgers dugout and chucked his hat into the air with glee. That caught the ire of Padres third baseman Manny Machado, who hurled multiple “F-bombs” towards the Dodgers, which in turn angered players like Mookie Betts.

After Los Angeles’ victory, Betts was asked about the tempers flaring in the seventh, who said that celebrations should go both ways, considering Machado flipped his bat following his home run earlier in the game!

A reminder that the Dodgers and Padres don’t like each other

When it comes to these two MLB squads, the rivalry has heated up ever since the Padres emerged from the cellar of the NL West division. And neither team likes when the other “show boats.”

Last month, Padres outfielder Trent Grisham angered Los Angeles by admiring his game-tying home run off ace Clayton Kershaw before flipping the bat. After that regular-season contest, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that he doesn’t mind it when a player flips his bat. However, he “took exception” to Grisham not showing the proper respect to Kershaw.

One month later, and it’s Machado who admired his home run off Kershaw that really set things off. The Dodgers did have a form of revenge after Bellinger’s game-saving catch. As Betts said, if the Padres want to dish it out, they have to be able to take it as well.