Benches clear AFTER D-backs beat Dodgers

LOS ANGELES -- As with most baseball disputes, which team was responsible for the postgame fracas between the D-backs and Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium was a matter of who you asked.

Regardless of which side you’re on, the trouble started when the Dodgers and AJ Pollock thought the outfielder was hit on the wrist by an Archie Bradley pitch with a runner on first base and no outs in the 11th inning.

It was a big moment in the game, with the D-backs clinging to a one-run lead in a game they went on to win, 3-2. Home-plate umpire Ramon De Jesus ruled the ball hit the knob of Pollock’s bat, not his wrist.

The ball went up in the air, and Arizona catcher Carson Kelly caught it for the out. Or was it?

The Dodgers challenged the play, and after a replay review, the call stood, which meant there was not enough evidence to overturn or confirm it.

By this point, Pollock was at first base, and as he walked off the field, he had some words for De Jesus.

Bradley thought Pollock was taking too long to exit and told his former teammate to get off the field.

“I got him out,” Bradley said. “That was my whole thing, that’s where it all started, like, you’re out. And you’re sitting there arguing while I’m trying to pitch to the next batter in a save situation in the 11th inning in Dodger Stadium. This is a hostile environment, I’m trying to win and you’re still standing arguing after you’ve been called out twice. It’s nothing personal to A.J. at all. It could have been anyone in the big leagues.”

“I don’t know what he was doing,” Pollock said. “Honestly, I’m walking, just got smoked in the wrist, no knob. ... Not going to go sprinting off and be all giggly. He didn’t like that. Tough. Whatever.”

The Dodgers were incensed about the call, believing that the review should have gone in their favor, and seeing Bradley yell at one of their teammates made them later have some words for the right-hander.

When Bradley struck out Will Smith to end the game, Bradley pointed to the Dodgers' dugout and started yelling and pointing at them.

“Then, the game ended and they kept talking,” Bradley said. “As a competitor, you’re only going to take so much before you kind of chirp back.”

Unsurprisingly, the Dodgers had a different take.

“Just hit a guy on the wrist,” Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner said. “And he’s yelling at him to get off the field. Shut your mouth and get on the mound and pitch. Then, he closes the game and stares in the dugout. Like, worry about your guys, don’t worry about us.”

As Bradley kept yelling at the Dodgers' dugout, Los Angeles players began to come onto the field. Arizona players were already heading onto the field to celebrate the victory. There was a lot of pushing, shoving and words being exchanged, but no punches were thrown.

Just as things started to calm down, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts appeared to be irate and had to be held back from going at D-backs starting pitcher Robbie Ray.

Ray, who started the game and departed after six innings, was in D-backs shorts and a pullover hoodie.

“It was somebody in shorts,” Roberts said. “Not sure who it was. If it was [Ray], he shouldn’t have been out there. I see somebody in shorts, wearing an Arizona t-shirt, that looks to me like staff. After you’re out of the game, in shorts, doesn’t need to be out there.”

Whatever Roberts yelled at Ray seemed to set the pitcher off.

“I was just minding my own business,” Ray said. “I was out behind everybody and I hear someone yelling at me, and I’m not just going to sit there and take it. I’m not going to just sit there and let you yell at me like that. If you want to do something about it, then that’s fine. But I’m not just going to wear it.”

Was Ray surprised the opposing manager was yelling at him?

“A little bit,” Ray said. “I think maybe it’s a fake-tough-guy thing that he puts on for his team. But whatever. I mean, we won the game.”

There are two more games left in this weekend series in Los Angeles, then the Dodgers travel to Chase Field for a four-game set later this month to conclude the season series between the two teams.