Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado had some explaining to do after his foot landed down on Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar in the NLCS.
Whether there it intentional or not, Christian Yelich referred to it as "a dirty play by a dirty player."
On Saturday night, Machado was once again questioned for spiking a first baseman. Machado clipped his former teammate Steve Pearce, who suited up at first base and lead the Red Sox to a 9-6 victory by driving in four runs on the night. In the bottom of the ninth, Machado grounded out and tried to beat the throw out at first. Upon contact with the base, Machado's left foot landed down on the heel of Pearce's right foot, causing his spikes to clip right below his Achilles.
After the game was wrapped up, reporters caught up with Machado and asked if there was any intent on his part.
“It’s late in the year; our legs are giving out on us, and you’re just trying to get to first base as fast as possible,” said Machado per USA Today. Sometimes, it just happens.”
The two played together during their time in Baltimore, causing Machado to refer to them as "kind of, almost best friends."
“He was at my wedding; his daughter was my flower girl.”
With Machado's history of questionable encounters on the basepath, the baseball world to call him out on social media for his actions.
It's worth noting that Pearce didn't exactly react in a manner you'd expect for someone that had just had their heel spiked.
Pearce's home run in the eighth tied the game up at 4-4. Game 5 goes Sunday night in Los Angeles, and with the Red Sox leading the series 3-1, they're sitting in the driver's seat with a chance to win their ninth World Series in franchise history.
(h/t USA Today)
