Tensions were already beginning to boil over between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers before the seventh inning of Game 2 of the NLDS. Jurickson Profar jawed with Dodgers fans after he went up and robbed Mookie Betts of a home run.
Then Manny Machado and Jack Flaherty had words after Flaherty walked off the mound and took exception to something. However, things took a dangerous turn after that.
When the Padres took the field for the seventh inning, things got legitimately scary when a pair of baseballs were thrown on to the field in Profar's direction.
Understandably, Profar not only tried to point out at least one perpetrator to security, but he also flipped out and got the umpiring crew involved, leading to a lengthy delay (and even more objects being thrown).
Padres-Dodgers NLDS matchup takes dramatic turn with stoppage of play
In a scene that was reminiscent of the infamous "Infield Fly Rule" game, LA fans lost their minds. Their team was down by three runs at home and, after multiple skirmishes with fans and players, something collectively broke in their minds and the outfield fans decided to take matters into their own hands. Not only were balls thrown at Profar, but fans also started throwing things in the direction of Fernando Tatis Jr. during the delay.
This was a genuinely sad turn of events during what has been a remarkable 2024 MLB playoffs thus far. This postseason has had so many great games and performances, and seeing fans act this way by putting other fans and players in danger just has no place in sports, period.
Play has since resumed. Yu Darvish pitched a strong seventh inning after the delay and then Jackson Merrill put an exclamation point on the proceedings with a two-run bomb in the eighth. Xander Bogaerts went back-to-back with a solo shot to make it a 7-1 contest.
At this rate, Dodgers fans will probably start throwing hot dogs at anybody wearing yellow and brown.