San Diego Padres All-Star Manny Machado responded to Hall of Famer David Ortiz after the pundit claimed the Padres' NLDS series was "over" after the Milwaukee Brewers took a 2-0 lead. The Padres played the Brewers close in the two games at American Family Field, losing each contest by one run with controversy running wild across both games. In the first matchup, a long Ty France fly ball struck some wiring connected to the roof, potentially changing a go-ahead home run to a flyout in the ninth inning, and in the second game, closer Mason Miller appeared to be tipping his pitches as the Brewers walked off the game.
After Game 2, Ortiz declared the Brewers as the winners of the series. "I'm sorry guys, I have to break it to you," Ortiz said. "I have so much love for San Diego and everything, but golly you were supposed to win this game.
Now you're against the rope. It's over, I'm sorry." Ahead of Game 3, Machado responded to his comments. "Those aren't the first comments that we've heard about us this year," Machado said.
"It's been all year from everyone. Here we are once again with our backs against the wall. We overcame it once, and we're going to do it again." The Padres struggled towards the middle of the season, hovering right around .500 and a couple of games outside of the final Wild Card spot.
They came around towards the end of the season, though, shooting up to the top spot in the Wild Card to earn home field advantage in the first round of the postseason, so Machado's "backs against the wall" comment is more than accurate. They've played extremely well at home this season, winning 51 of their 82 games on the year at Petco Park, and swept the Brewers during their visit to San Diego during the regular season. The Padres will hope to replicate that result over the next two games as they work towards their franchise's first ever World Series championship.
Game 3 of the NLDS between the Padres and Brewers begins Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. PT, and will feature a matchup between Dustin May and Nick Pivetta.
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