For the second time this postseason, Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado came under fire for a run-in with an opposing first baseman, following an incident in Game 4 of the World Series.
Ten days after being called a "dirty player" by the Milwaukee Brewers for dragging his foot into the leg of Jesus Aguilar, Machado stepped on the back of the foot of Boston Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce in the ninth inning Saturday.
THIS IS NOT OK. the league needs to do something about Machado. pic.twitter.com/jTFR0LzXkh
— megan BREWERS NL CENTRAL CHAMPIONS brown (@thatgirlondeck) October 28, 2018
After receiving immediate criticism on social media, Machado explained he wouldn't do anything like that to Pearce, a good friend of his, on purpose.
"He was at my wedding; his daughter was my flower girl," Machado said to Ted Berg of USA Today Sports. "It's late in the year; our legs are giving out on us, and you're just trying to get to first base as fast as possible. Sometimes, it just happens."
Pearce and Machado were teammates together during their time with the Baltimore Orioles.
