Nats, Padres benches clear as Ruiz, Profar jaw at plate

SAN DIEGO — You probably didn’t have Padres-Nationals as a budding rivalry. But you should now.

In the second game of a fiery three-game series between the two, benches cleared prior to Jurickson Profar’s first at-bat in the first inning Tuesday night — and that was only the start of the drama at Petco Park.

A night earlier, Profar authored a dramatic 10th-inning walk-off single with the bases loaded. The Nationals had opted to intentionally walk Luis Arraez to pitch to Profar. Then Washington reliever Hunter Harvey came high and tight with an 0-2 fastball, knocking Profar down. After the game, Profar was quick to say he felt “disrespected.”

When Profar walked it off, he celebrated in the center of the infield grass and gestured animatedly in the direction of the Nationals dugout, though he would later say he was pumping up the crowd.

Cut back to Tuesday. When Profar arrived at home plate, he was greeted with words from Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz. Manny Machado, on deck at the time, stepped between the two. But not before the dugouts and bullpens had already cleared.

Not much came of the incident, aside from a few animated conversations. However, after tensions settled and both benches had been warned, MacKenzie Gore’s first pitch was a fastball off Profar’s foot.

Padres manager Mike Shildt, displeased that Gore wasn’t ejected, promptly emerged to argue and got himself run. Gore, a one-time Padres top prospect, remained in the game — and Manny Machado launched his next pitch into the left-field seats for a two-run homer.

Petco Park erupted. Machado practically walked to first base. Profar basically sprinted to third, then celebrated again in front of the Nationals dugout, though this time he made it clear he was gesturing toward the fans.