German_Force » lost eight of 11 and are 38-36 overall

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Manny Machado has stepped into trouble again http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-sammy-sosa-jersey , causing at least one opponent to call him “a dirty player.”Both benches cleared after the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ star shortstop clipped the back leg of Milwaukee first baseman Jesus Aguilar while running out his groundout Tuesday night in the 10th inning of Game 4 of the NL Championship Series.Aguilar left his foot on the base for a moment after Machado was already out, and the star shortstop appeared to show his displeasure by bringing his left foot forward and kicking Aguilar on the back of the leg.The incident immediately took the top spot on the growing list of Machado’s debatable decisions in baseball ethics.“He’s a player that has a history of those types of incidents,” Milwaukee slugger Christian Yelich said. “One time is an accident. Repeated over and over and over again, you’re just a dirty player. It’s a dirty play by a dirty player, and that’s what it is. I have a lot of respect for him as a player, but you can’t respect someone who plays the game like that.”Aguilar wasn’t hurt, but he was angry. Dodgers first base coach George Lombard joined the discussion before players spilled onto the field from both benches and bullpens.“I was trying to get over him and hit his foot,” Machado said. “If that’s dirty, that’s dirty. I don’t know. Call it what you want.”Nothing happened beyond that spirited argument, and the two principals made up after Machado singled in the 13th inning. He briefly hugged Aguilar while they stood together at first base.“We’re family. Things happen,” said Machado, who scored the winning run moments later. “Everything that happens on the field stays on the field. He’s a great guy. We go way back since the minor leagues. So it’s just a friendly game, go out Joe Maddon Jersey , try and compete here. We’re trying to win. He’s trying to do whatever he can to help his team over there, and we’re doing the same over here.”The rest of the Brewers didn’t appear to be quite as forgiving. Infielder Travis Shaw also called it dirty, and Yelich followed up his postgame criticism of Machado by yelling a profane epithet as he walked away from his locker.“The play at first today is a pretty dirty play,” Shaw said. “It’s not a mistake. You don’t kick somebody like that on accident. You can say it wasn’t on purpose, this and that, but it’s a dirty play.Just a few weeks before the 26-year-old Machado likely hits the open market as one of the most desirable free agents in baseball, the big-hitting shortstop has become the latest star to tread the well-worn line between fierce competitors and dirty players.The four-time All-Star also caused controversy Monday in Game 3 with two hard slides into second base while shortstop Orlando Arcia attempted to turn double plays. The second one resulted in a double play for the Brewers after video review .“It’s a beauty pageant,” Alex Rodriguez said on Fox Sports’ postgame show. “You have 30 owners (who) all want you right now. The whole world is watching baseball. You don’t want four, five owners to sit around and say, ‘Hey, did you see what Manny did? Did you see that? Oh, yeah, yeah http://www.chicagocubsteamshop.com/authentic-willson-contreras-jersey , we’re out. We like him, but now we’re out.’ You’re losing tens of millions of dollars by the second if that becomes the narrative.”Machado already had drawn the ire of ex-players and old-school baseball men from Jim Palmer to Eric Byrnes with his occasional lack of hustle. While Machado has been criticized for not running out grounders and making hustle plays over the years, he also showed he’s got plenty of pep when properly motivated: He sprinted from second to home on Cody Bellinger’s two-out single in the 13th, sticking out his left hand to touch home plate as he beat Yelich’s throw to the plate and slid past Erik Kratz’s tag. Machado didn’t run out a grounder in Game 2 of the NLCS , adding to the negative attention in this series. In an interview with Fox Sports 1 that aired before Game 4 , he acknowledged there was “no excuse” for not making more effort — but also displayed an attitude that won’t endear him to the old school.“I’m not the type of player that’s going to be Johnny Hustle and run down the line and slide to first base,” Machado said. “That’s just not my personality. That’s not my cup of tea. That’s not who I am.”Machado attracted disdain early in the 2017 season with a hard slide into Boston second baseman Dustin Pedroia . Machado got his spikes into Pedroia’s left ankle and knee as he slid over the base, and his Orioles had a testy relationship with the Red Sox for the rest of the season .The Dodgers acquired Machado from Baltimore this season for their playoff push, and to replace injured shortstop Corey Seager. Machado had 37 homers and 107 RBIs in the regular season, and he batted .242 in the first eight games of the postseason.After he got two hits in Game 3, Machado’s frustration at the plate also probably played a role in his mood in Game 4. His groundout dropped him to 0 for 5 as the Dodgers’ cleanup hitter. A look at what’s happening around the majors today:FINAL COUNTDOWNWith the Rockies a half-game ahead of the Dodgers for the NL West lead, the teams begin their final series of the regular season. Jon Gray (11-7) pitches the opener of a three-game set at Dodger Stadium against Hyun-Jin Ryu (4-3). Gray is 4-0 in 11 starts since returning from the minors. After getting shut out on consecutive days, the Rockies ended their longest scoring drought of the year during a 3-2 win Sunday in San Francisco. Colorado is 41-34 on the road this season Albert Almora Jr Jersey , and one more victory will break the franchise record for wins away from Coors Field.HUNT FOR OCTOBERIt’s a potential playoff preview and a matchup of All-Star pitchers when Miles Mikolas (15-4) and the Cardinals visit first-place Atlanta. Mike Foltynewicz (11-9) starts for the Braves, who lead second-place Philadelphia by 6½ games in the NL East. Atlanta’s magic number is eight to win its first NL East title in five years. But the Braves have been struggling at home, where they have lost eight of 11 and are 38-36 overall. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said third baseman Johan Camargo should be back in the lineup after missing four games with left groin tightness.SILENT STICKSLeading the NL Central by 2½ games over Milwaukee, the Cubs hope to get their slumping bats going when they face left-hander Patrick Corbin (11-5, 3.05 ERA) in Arizona. Chasing its third consecutive division championship, Chicago scored only five runs in a three-game home series against last-place Cincinnati over the weekend. The Cubs have totaled 15 runs in their past seven games. “We have to do better than one run somehow,” manager Joe Maddon said. Left fielder Kyle Schwarber (back) has missed six games in a row and didn’t accompany the team to Arizona.REST UPMookie Betts and the major league-leading Red Sox get a day off before their first chance to clinch a third straight AL East crown. Boston can wrap up the division title at Yankee Stadium for the second time in three seasons, needing only one win during a three-game series that opens Tuesday afternoon. Betts, a contender for AL MVP, left Sunday’s win over the Mets after hurting his left side making a throw to home plate. He said the injury is minor and he’ll be in the lineup Tuesday. The Yankees hold a 1½-game lead over Oakland for the top AL wild card. New York manager Aaron Boone said star slugger Aaron Judge could return to the lineup against Boston.