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New York Post
Nationals’ Jesse Winker climbs into stands to argue with fan as tensions rise over Jurickson Profar
By Erich Richter,
4 days ago
Tensions are flaring between the Nationals, Padres and their fans.
Washington outfielder Jesse Winker seemingly went into the stands for a heated argument with a fan after the Padres’ 7-6 walk-off win in 10 innings Monday.
The bystander seemingly began chirping after the game concluded, taking issue with an up-and-in pitch to outfielder Jurickson Profar with the bases loaded and two outs in a 6-5 game.
The fan called an 0-2 97-mph fastball from reliever Hunter Harvey “cheap” and “bush league,” although it’s clear that Harvey would not throw at Profar at with the tying run 90 feet from home plate.
Profar ultimately won the seven-pitch at-bat by lacing a game-winning ground-rule double.
Winkler, standing in a walk area to the left of home plate on the field level, engaged with the Padres fan, although the outfielders’ comments are inaudible in two social media videos of the interaction.
He eventually left the area and walked toward the visitor’s dugout.
Both the Padres and Nationals are battling for position in the crowded NL wild-card race, which includes the red-hot Mets , providing extra stakes to Monday’s game.
It seems the tipping point for Monday’s tension began when the Nationals intentionally walked Luis Arraez to face Profar, which he said in a postgame interview made him feel “a little disrespected.”
Profar later celebrated his walk-off hit with his teammates but also stared into the Nationals dugout, perhaps due to the walk that gave him the chance to play.
Television announcers mentioned on the broadcast that Profar did not celebrate with his teammates.
“The Nationals’ dugout is not thrilled with the way that Jurickson Profar celebrated that walk-off hit. He went right toward the Nationals dugout and started screaming at them, and Ildemaro Vargas, Jesse Winker, Keibert Ruiz stood on the [infield] warning track as the Padres were celebrating that walk-off,” one of the Nationals announcers said while Washington exited the dugout to the clubhouse.
“Jurickson Profar not celebrating by looking at his teammates, instead screaming at the Nationals dugout for the intentional walk that loaded the bases, challenging him in that moment. So, some drama.”
The Padres face the Nationals again in San Diego on Tuesday night at 9:40 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
It’s possible the late-game antics could lead to some more fireworks.
For the latest in sports, top headlines, breaking news and more, visit nypost.com/sports/
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