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Cody Bellinger made one of the most memorable defensive plays of the season in Game 2 of the NLDS, robbing Fernando Tatis Jr. of a potential go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh inning on Wednesday night at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
BELLI ROBS TATIS! pic.twitter.com/V9l4YCL0M4
— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2020
After Trent Grisham was hit by a Blake Treinen pitch with two outs in the seventh, Brusdar Graterol was summoned to protect a 4-3 Dodgers advantage. A first-pitch balk put Grisham in scoring position, a dangerous spot facing Tatis.
The Padres shortstop drilled a ball 105 mph off the bat, an estimated 413 feet to center field yet right at the 407-foot sign. But Bellinger brought it back.
Graterol celebrated on the mound, including throwing his glove toward the Dodgers dugout after what was the last out of the inning.
Cody Bellinger robs the go-ahead homer from Fernando Tatis Jr. plus replays. pic.twitter.com/VHaO0uTA4r
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) October 8, 2020
Manny Machado, who threw his bat while celebrating his own home run earlier in the game, didn’t take too kindly to Graterol’s celebration, appearing to say to Graterol, “I’ll be waiting for you.” Graterol responded by blowing Machado a kiss.
Manny Machado didn't appreciate Brusdar Graterol throwing his glove after the Cody catch.
— SB Nation (@SBNation) October 8, 2020
Graterol waved and blew him a kiss pic.twitter.com/d2kytue5Xz
Both dugouts, shall we say, exchanged pleasantries for a few minutes, but that was all.
Bellinger said he didn’t notice all of what led to the exchange between dugouts.
“I don’t know what Brusdar Graterol did, but it’s a big play in a postseason game, so I got Graterol’s back,” Bellinger said.
Machado, by the way, grounded out against Graterol in the eighth inning.
Mookie Betts was interviewed by Ken Rosenthal on the Fox broadcast after the game about the play.
"When he hit his home run he threw the bat... Then we take one away, we can celebrate too. So there's gotta be two sides to it."
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 8, 2020
- Mookie Betts on the exchanges with Manny Machado after the Cody Bellinger catch
(@Ken_Rosenthal) pic.twitter.com/gPSre4sneD
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts after the game downplayed the back-and-forth exchange.
“Obviously it’s a big play. We all know Brusdar is very emotional, and he just kind of was caught up in the moment and was really celebrating Cody’s play,” Roberts said. “Manny took exception to it, and that was it. I think it’s over.”