The Southern California rivalry between the Dodgers and Padres is getting a little bit spicier.
Padres starter Seth Lugo alleged the Dodgers stole signs during Los Angeles’ come-from-behind 13-7 win Monday at Petco Park.
Lugo allowed eight runs in 3 1/3 innings, with all eight runs scored in the fourth inning.
“Bush league,” Lugo said, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts clapped back Tuesday.
“Sounds like an excuse,” Roberts said, according to The Athletic.
Lugo entered the fourth inning Monday with a 5-0 lead when it all went wrong for the former Met.
Nine batters faced Lugo that inning and here are the outcomes: Single, out, walk, RBI double, RBI double, walk, single, RBI single, grand slam.
The last blow, Mookie Betts’ grand slam, capped the eight-run inning and ended Lugo’s afternoon.
When asked if the Dodgers knew what pitches were coming, Lugo said, “We know now that they did,” and indicated that video confirmed the suspicions.
The righty alleged the Dodgers relayed his grips from second base, which is not illegal but frowned upon.
Lugo ultimately did not use that as an excuse for his poor start.
“I knew coming in what they were going to do, especially on second base,” Lugo said, per MLB.com.
“You try to stay locked in and focused on executing pitches and some other stuff just slips your mind.”
The Dodgers denied they did so, although James Outman indicated he was at least looking by telling the San Diego Union-Tribune that Lugo “was kind of hiding it with his glove.”
Roberts said Lugo’s comments were “surprising.”
“I don’t think that was the case — and if it were, that’s gamesmanship,” Roberts said, according to The Athletic. “Yeah, a couple guys were talking about it (Tuesday).
“Given the respect I have for him from the other side, it just makes it a little surprising.”
While Roberts clearly did not like the comments, he’s not perturbed that his team is considered deft at picking up pitchers’ tells.
“That’s the beginning of baseball, to be able to do that, and when you have players that can relay signs and if you’re not giving the right signs or you’re showing your grips and things like that, that’s high baseball IQ players that we have,” Roberts said. “I think that’s a compliment.
“But a lot of times (the allegations are) unfounded. But I think the reputation itself clearly does enough to impact the pitcher.”
This isn’t the first time the Dodgers have been accused of sign stealing, with MLB investigating the team for illegal sign stealing in 2018 but ultimately clearing the team of illegal activity.
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