Note to all MLB teams playing the Dodgers: Do NOT mess with their manager – period.

With the Dodgers trailing 4-2 and no outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Colorado Rockies starter and Southern California native Peter Lambert made a pitch to Dodgers rookie second baseman Gavin Lux that was clearly a ball … clear to everyone but home plate umpire Greg Gibson, that is. The 19-year veteran umpire called it a strike, which enraged Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who immediately let Gibson know what he thought of his myopic shortcomings. But before the Dodgers skipper could even get to the heart of the matter, Gibson gave Roberts a very quick hook.

And then Roberts REALLY let Gibson know what he thought; and why not? The damage was done and the pending fine on its way.

Ironically, prior to his ejection, Roberts had been the only MLB manager – of which there are 30 – who had not been ejected from a game this season; an accomplishment in its own right. But no one, not Gibson, not Rockies manager Bud Black, and especially not Peter Lambert expected what happened next.

With no outs and Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor on first base (having been hit by Lambert), Lux walked, catcher Will Smith singled (prompting a pitching change), Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt, pinch-hitter Kiké Hernandez singled, third baseman Max Muncy singled, left fielder A.J. Pollock homered, first baseman Cody Bellinger walked, shortstop Corey Seager (who had homered to lead off the inning) struck out, Taylor walked (in his second plate appearance of the inning), and Lux grounded out to first for the final out of the inning.

When the dust finally settled 41 minutes later, 12 Dodgers batters had come to the plate, of which seven had scored.

The Dodgers would go on to win the three hour and 39-minute contest by a final score of 12-5 (under the direction of Dodgers bench coach Bob Geren) to give Kershaw his team-best 15th win of the season (against five losses).

“I just thought it was a ball, he took offense to it,” Roberts told reporters after the game about his ejection. “Gibby’s a pro. He’s been doing this a long time. I got animated. I’m emotional. I thought it was a quick hook.”

As for Kershaw, he was less than thrilled with his outing on (appropriately) ‘Fireworks Friday,’ having given up four runs on eight hits – including three solo home runs – in his 6.0 innings of work.

“Not a lot of good tonight on my part, pretty bad all around,” Kershaw said. “Command, stuff-wise, crispness, everything wasn’t very good. Don’t know why, but need to get better. Got one more to figure it out before the real thing gets going. Thankful for that.”

The moral of the story?

Do NOT mess with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

…ever.

Play Ball!

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