SAN DIEGO — The boos began raining down as the Dodgers were introduced before Game 3 of their National League Division Series on Tuesday night at Petco Park.
None of them should have been surprised.
“The atmosphere here plays off their emotion,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said of the San Diego Padres before the game. “We’ve seen that for the last several years, even in regular-season games. Just something as simple as a single and you see the guy throwing the bat 30 feet in the air, that really gets the crowd going here.
“Part of their game is trying to get under your skin and trying to have the emotion come out and get you to do something that you’re not normally doing. … For example, if you’re a pitcher and you see a guy doing that all of a sudden you want to throw harder and now you’re missing balls right over the plate. And that’s when their guys are doing the damage.”
The Padres were able to make it all about them on Sunday, taunting and trolling their way to a 10-2 win that leveled the best-of-five series. One moment from that game continued to reverberate for two days when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts accused Padres third baseman Manny Machado of throwing a ball at him between innings.
Roberts called it “unsettling” and “disrespectful.” Padres manager Mike Shildt responded Tuesday afternoon, defending Machado’s “professionalism and leadership” and saying there was “zero” chance he was throwing at Roberts.
“I don’t think there was any intent at all with that,” Shildt said. “Manny has exceptional arm talent. I think he proved that on the triple play.”
Shildt was referring to the game-ending triple play turned by the Padres at Dodger Stadium on the night when they clinched a playoff berth. But he also made some comments that – like Machado’s throw – seemed to be directed at Roberts.
“Listen, I got into this game to help players get the most out of their God-given ability and to compete on the field and respect the opponent,” Shildt said. “I’m not, nor will I ever, disparage another player on another team, especially anybody I’ve managed in the past nor will I do it to a collective team. That’s not how I want to operate.”
When Shildt’s comment was read to him later, Roberts said he had no response.
“I think that two years ago, I do think, that coming in here in Game 3, I think it caught us by surprise, the energy here,” Roberts said of the hostility he expected from the fans at Petco Park.
“But I think we’re much more equipped to handle it this time around.”
After leaving Game 2 early when his injured ankle became too painful for him to continue playing, Freddie Freeman was back in the starting lineup for Game 3.
“He’s doing everything he can to post, which I appreciate. I think everyone in the clubhouse respects,” Roberts said.
Doing everything he can has meant taking painkilling injections in addition to other treatment. Freeman did not participate in the Dodgers’ workout on Monday.
“It was a mental reprieve, break, which he needed,” Roberts said. “Hopefully, he caught a good dinner and got some good rest.”
Rookie right-hander Landon Knack will be available to pitch in a bulk role if needed in Game 4, but Roberts said the Dodgers will resort to a bullpen game while facing elimination.
“It’s essentially all hands on deck,” Roberts said. “It’s a bullpen game. I see one of our relievers starting.”
Before Game 3, the Dodgers dropped right-hander Michael Grove from their active roster due to injury and added right-hander Ben Casparius.
Grove faced two batters in Game 2 and gave up one of the six home runs hit by the Padres that night.
“There’s a shoulder thing that he’s been dealing with for quite some time,” Roberts said. “The recovery is not good (after he pitches).”
Roberts said Grove will likely get imaging done of his shoulder to determine the extent of the injury. Because he was dropped from the NLDS roster due to injury, Grove will not be eligible for a potential NLCS roster.
Second baseman Gavin Lux said he has tried to follow a piece of advice about postseason play that he got from former Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner.
“You try to take the 4-for-4 approach,” Lux said. “When you’re walking up to the plate and you’re 4 for 4, you feel really good. J.T. told me that in my first postseason in ’19. He said, ‘Try to go up there feeling like you’re 4-for-4 every at-bat, and try not to lose that feeling.’
“That’s the best piece of advice I’ve gotten that I’ve tried to incorporate.”
