D-Backs, Dodgers clear benches but avoid postgame brawl after heated 11th
The Arizona Diamondbacks-Los Angeles Dodgers rivalry is alive and well.
Tempers flared between the NL West rivals at the end of Arizona's 3-2, 11-inning win at Dodger Stadium, leading to a near-brawl following a controversial call.
After Arizona had taken the lead in the top of the 11th, Dodgers outfielder A.J. Pollock - a former Diamondback - claimed he was hit in the wrist by an Archie Bradley pitch. But home-plate umpire Ramon De Jesus ruled Pollock out, saying the ball actually hit the knob of his bat before being caught by catcher Carson Kelly for a pop-up.
After video review confirmed the call, an irate Pollock took his time leaving the field while continuing to insist he was hit by the pitch. He also exchanged words with Bradley, who gestured for Pollock to get off the field.
"Typically I'm very political with umpiring," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said afterward, according to Pedro Moura of The Athletic. "But they missed it. That's just the fact."
Two batters later, Bradley struck out Will Smith to save the D-Backs' win and immediately began yelling at the Dodgers' dugout, leading both benches and bullpens to clear. No punches were thrown, but Roberts and D-Backs pitcher Robbie Ray were among several members of both teams who needed to be restrained.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
Roberts' anger with the D-Backs carried over into his postgame availability.
"You get a guy (Pollock) trying to get off the field, trying to feel his wrist to make sure things are all still in place, and then you've got a pitcher (Bradley) shooing our guy off," Roberts said, according to Greg Beacham of The Associated Press. "... So our guys took offense to that, and after you get the save, after you finish the game, you look into our dugout and pop off, (it was) unnecessary."
He added: "I just saw something over there where things were getting defused, and then you see another person that's really trying to instigate, and it's just like, it's not necessary. I don't think that we instigated anything, to be honest with you."
Ray, who started Friday's game, responded to Roberts' verbal jabs with one of his own.
"I think maybe it's a fake tough-guy thing that he puts on for his team," the left-hander told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. "But whatever. I mean, we won the game."
The Dodgers and D-Backs face each other six more times this season, including another two games this weekend.