Dodgers, Rockies clear the air after benches empty following play at the plate

Things got a little testy between the Dodgers and Rockies in extra innings on Monday in Los Angeles.

In the top of the 10th inning of a tied game, Rockies rookie Cole Carrigg scored from third base on a bang-bang play at the plate, narrowly sliding past Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing. Shortly after, the two players began jawing at each other, which led to both benches briefly (and partially) emptying. Nothing ultimately came of the interaction, however.

"I think that what happened is Carrigg said something aloud, not directed at Dalton," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "Dalton thought something was directed at him. We cleared the air. Basically a big misunderstanding."

Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer said he didn't see the exchange and called it "no big deal," while Colorado reliever Antonio Senzatela appreciated the camaraderie his team displayed.

"It's really nice to see that energy here," Senzatela said. "I think what happened was OK. It's, like, a misunderstanding. But we need to fight. We have everybody's back. It's part of the game. You support your teammates."

Both Rushing and Carrigg played outsized roles in this game. Rushing's walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning gave the Dodgers an 8-7 win, and he also had a pair of doubles. It was the Dodgers’ first extra-inning game of the season.

“Yeah, it feels good, it was a little back and forth. It was just the competitive nature of the game," Rushing said. "You’re making a play on the ball, take it the wrong way, and like I said, I didn’t mean any harm by the tag or the way I reacted to the ball. Made sure he knew that. Told him I was just reacting to the baseball, and yeah. I don’t expect it to go any further.”

Carrigg, meanwhile, hit a game-tying two-run double in the ninth inning that helped send the game to extra innings. The Rockies’ rookie also had another double and a single in the game.

"I was just a little frustrated," Carrigg said after the game. "I wasn't mad at the way Rushing was covering the plate or whatever. For me, that's just baseball. But I collided with him and then hit the umpire, too. I felt like, I can't be getting hit by both guys, you know? The one at the plate's fine, but the umpire's gotta give me a little room to slide, so I was frustrated at that. I turned and said something to Mickey [Moniak] on deck. I wasn't looking at either one, then he got all upset. But, you know, it's just baseball."