Dalton Rushing already left his mark on the Giants-Dodgers rivalry.
On Thursday, Logan Webb made sure the rivalry left a mark on LA’s catcher, who stirred up controversy earlier in the series when cameras appeared to show him saying ‘F— him’ while San Francisco outfielder Jung Hoo Lee sat at home plate, injured, after being thrown out.
Whether it was well-placed retribution or merely a wild pitch, Rushing, 25, will have a baseball-sized bruise on his midsection to remember the latest series in the 136-year-old rivalry.
Dalton Rushing already left his mark on the Giants-Dodgers rivalry. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect Whether it was well-placed retribution or merely a wild pitch, Rushing, 25, will have a baseball-sized bruise on his midsection to remember the latest series in the 136-year-old rivalry. Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images Trailing 3-0 in the sixth inning, Webb squared up Rushing with a 93 mph fastball to the ribs. The 1-0 offering was so far inside the left-handed batter’s box that Rushing’s attempt to jump out of the way kept him in the path of the pitch. Judging by his reaction, it didn’t feel good.
After wearing the pitch for a few moments, Rushing angrily flipped his bat as he took his base.
Despite the circumstances, there was no sign that Webb intended to do anything more than brush Rushing back off the plate. Giants catcher Patrick Bailey set up high and inside but was forced to quickly adjust his target after the pitch left Webb’s hand.
Rushing, for his part, said the moment in Tuesday’s series opener that went viral was misinterpreted. Lee left the game after the play but was back in the lineup the next day. Nevertheless, Lee told reporters that Rushing reached out through teammate Hyesong Kim, who is friends with Lee, to smooth over any misunderstandings.
Still, only 63 games into his career, Rushing has shown a knack for generating headlines for more than his seven home runs in 29 at-bats to begin this season. Before the Dodgers arrived in San Francisco, Rushing suggested the Rockies might have been up to something “a little fishy” because the Rockies were having so much first-pitch success in the 9-6 loss.
Under new manager Tony Vitello, the Giants haven’t shied away from controversy, either. Reliever Erik Miller was caught on camera directing his own four-letter words toward the Reds after finishing a win that included a benches-clearing incident.
The Dodgers have dominated the Giants on the field in recent years.
But maybe this is the kind of new blood the rivalry needs.
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