The San Diego Padres had an exciting walk-off win on Monday night against the Washington Nationals, but the game was not without controversy. A Nationals outfielder, Jesse Winker, found himself in a heated exchange with a Padres fan over a pitch that was thrown during the game.
In the 10th inning, Jurickson Profar hit a ground-rule double that brought in two runs, ultimately leading to the Padres’ victory. However, it was a particular 0-2 pitch that Profar faced that caught the attention of the fan in question. Hunter Harvey threw a pitch that buzzed Profar up and in, which led to some backlash from the fan.
The fan, who claimed to be 66 years old, shouted at Winker as he ran off the field, calling the pitch “cheap” and “bush league.” Although the audio of the interaction is not entirely clear, it was evident that the fan was not pleased with the pitch that was thrown.
Profar also seemed to take offense to the pitch, as he was seen shouting at the Nationals’ dugout as the ball dropped. The Nationals’ broadcasters mentioned that Profar was visibly upset by the intentional walk to Luis Arraez in the previous at-bat, feeling disrespected by the opposing team’s strategy.
The tension between the two teams escalated further in the game, as benches cleared in the first inning after some jawing between Ruiz and Profar. MacKenzie Gore hit Profar with a pitch shortly after, but no ejections were made. This led to Manny Machado hitting a long home run in response.
Despite the drama, Profar’s walk-off hit sealed the victory for the Padres in the 10th inning, securing a sweep of the Nationals in the three-game series. The Padres emerged victorious with an 8-5 win in the final game of the set on Wednesday.
The intense moments and heated exchanges between players and fans added an extra layer of excitement to the game, showcasing the passion and competitiveness of baseball. While tensions may have run high, the Padres ultimately came out on top, solidifying their dominance over the Nationals in the series.