Manny Machado didn’t hold back after a close call from the home plate umpire went against him. What he expected to be a ball was called a borderline strike, drawing an intense reaction from the San Diego Padres star as his team trailed 8–6.
What’s striking in the video is the direct footage from the umpire’s helmet cam, which clearly shows Machado’s fury after the close call. He obviously didn’t like the decision, and a walk would have helped the Padres.
However, as is typical, such protests seldom swing the call in the batter’s favor. Machado narrowly avoided an ejection, and in the end, the Padres fell 8-7, though they put up a strong fight into extra innings.
Machado and the Padres Fight into the 10th
The Padres, eager for a win, scored a final run in the bottom of the 10th inning. However, despite Machado’s contributions (2 hits in 5 at-bats, including an RBI), the team ultimately needed more help from Tatis Jr.
Tatis Jr. managed just one run and one hit in three at-bats against the Dodgers. However, he at least snapped a cold streak, having gone hitless in his previous three games dating back to June 5.
Padres Look to Rebound at Home After Road Trip
The San Diego Padres, despite a respectable 37-28 record, find themselves in a challenging spot, having dropped five of their last ten games. They haven’t won a home series since May, making this current stand against the Dodgers a crucial opportunity to regain momentum at Petco Park after a seven-game road swing (4-3).