A Los Angeles Dodgers fan tried to trick everyone by throwing a fake home run ball on the field but got caught on live television. In the fourth inning of the Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres game on Sunday night, a Dodgers fan caught a home run ball that was hit by Padres player Manny Machado. It looked like the fan threw the ball back, but the cameras caught him going into his pocket to pull out another ball and threw that onto the outfield instead.
ESPN interviewed the fan and explained why he did it. “I got caught, but every ballhawk out here knows to come prepared for a reason like this. A hated Padre hits a home run, you don’t throw it back, you are going to get booed mercilessly by the Dodger faithful,” the fan explained. “That’s happened to me in the past before.
“I tried to come prepared. I put the ball in my right pocket just in case it happened. I knew Machado, a big power hitter was up. It could happen so I was ready.”
The fan was then asked if fans called him out on the switcheroo. “Nobody in the stands called me out switcheroo,” he said. “Everybody high-fived me and was happy I threw it back. The telecast seems to be the only people that caught it. I did admit to a few people here what I had done. But I got away scot-free from the crowd.”
The Dodgers and Padres known how to battle
The Dodgers and Padres are rivals as they both play in the NL West. And things have heated up recently with the Padres beating the Dodgers in the NL Division Series in 2022. On Saturday night, an incident occurred during the fifth inning that led to both teams clearing the bench. Dodgers pitcher Gavin Stone nearly hit Padres outfielder Jurickson Profar. Both players exchanged words, and all the players from both teams came onto the field.
“Obviously I wasn’t at the plate … and I don’t know what was said, but you don’t have to like that, nor should [Profar] like it,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said, per MLB.com. “And if he had something to say, I support him completely.
“You take exception to a guy running something in on you tight. I think he maybe said something and maybe something was said back, I’m not really sure. We’re not gonna start anything, but we’re not gonna take anything.”
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