In a clash of tempers and talent, the San Diego Padres dominated the Dodgers 10-2 in Game 2 of the NLDS, but not before fans turned the stands into a projectile zone, creating a brief pause for play.

As the series now heads to San Diego tied at 1-1, last night's game not only showcased the Padres’ offensive prowess—highlighted by a solo home run from Fernando Tatis Jr. and a late-game surge—but also drew attention for its chaotic fan involvement, with object-throwing incidents that prompted Padres manager Mike Shildt to worry more about flying objects than fastballs. With Freddie Freeman nursing an ankle injury, the stage is set for a wild Game 3 as players, fans, and a few rogue baseballs continue their battle.

The evening began with a sense of anticipation as 54,119 fans packed the stands, perhaps looking for home runs, but ready to hurl whatever they had on hand. And sure enough, the game was marred by delays due to miscellaneous items being tossed onto the field. This compelled umpires to pause play on multiple occasions, not unlike a discussion on which salad dressing to pair with a fleet of tacos.

The tension escalated as Jurickson Profar found himself at the center of an impromptu fan-initiated showcase. No one dares to throw a baseball at a player and expect it to be taken lightly. When a rogue baseball was hurled in Profar's direction, the umpires wisely intervened, leading to an awkward standoff as they addressed the matter. One wonders if any fans had a spare baseball glove handy to toss back at Profar, just for good measure.

On a brighter note for the Padres, Fernando Tatis Jr. launched a solo home run in the first inning, igniting the crowd—or perhaps encouraging more projectile artistry, depending on your perspective. This early lead set the tone for what would be a night riddled with slugging and slight chaos. Tatis’s home run was just the start of something explosive—no pun intended, of course.

As the game rolled into its later stages, the Padres continued to build on their momentum, scoring three runs in both the eighth and ninth innings. The climax came with a two-run homer by Jackson Merrill during the eighth, drawing both cheers and stunned gasps from fans who were just as likely to cheer his feats as they were to throw their nachos. Remarkably, Merrill, who just started a national conversation about where tossing things at players might lead, remained a key contributor on the field.

Meanwhile, Yu Darvish manned the mound with poise, allowing only one run on three hits over a commanding seven innings. His performance reminded everyone why having a strong pitcher is akin to having a reliable umbrella on a rainy day—crucial for preventing disaster.

The game wasn't all smooth sailing, however. Tensions boiled over when Dodgers pitcher Jack Flaherty hit Tatis with a pitch, sparking a somewhat theatrical verbal exchange between Tatis and Manny Machado. As if part of a carefully scripted drama, this conversation included everything except a stage direction, leaving the audience eagerly awaiting the next act, even if that meant dodging popcorn and hot dogs on their way to the exits.

Not to be overlooked, Padres manager Mike Shildt expressed concern for the players’ safety in the wake of the object-throwing incidents, which does have a way of souring the tone of a joyful game. One might consider suggesting he double as a referee in some alternative universe, where throwing things at people is somehow accepted as a new sport.

As the series shifts to San Diego, both teams will be looking to regain or maintain momentum—though perhaps this time without the additional artful distraction from spectator missiles. With Freeman listed as day-to-day due to an ankle injury, may the best team win, provided they can dodge both pitches and flying errata without sustaining lasting injury. The fans' desire for an engaging spectacle seems to boil down to one pressing question: Will it be a game of baseball, or an offseason audition for an object-throwing contest? Only time will tell.