Kershaw: Jurickson Profar could've injured Austin Barnes

Kershaw made it known that he wasn't happy after an incident during the Dodgers-Padres game. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Clayton Kershaw: Padres' Jurickson Profar could have injured Austin Barnes on 'scary' swing

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 4/18/21

Tensions between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres continued to escalate Saturday when Clayton Kershaw and Jurickson Profar minced words following an at-bat during the second game of a three-contest set.

Kershaw made it known that he wasn't happy after Profar was sent to first base on catcher's interference when he swung at a pitch and hit Austin Barnes' glove.

The catcher's interference that had Kershaw heated (via @pitchingninja) pic.twitter.com/W2ve7fxql4
— Starting 9 (@Starting9) April 18, 2021

The @Padres and Dodgers find themselves in another brouhaha!#HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/7ezSadMdPK
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) April 18, 2021

Kershaw said postgame, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register:

"That's a little scary. I think Barnes could have been seriously injured on that play. He basically swung straight down and backwards. I'm not saying it was intentional. But that was not a big-league swing right there.

"I asked the umpire if I could just hit the catcher's glove every time. I've got a much better chance of doing that than hitting the ball."

The incident happened one day after the benches cleared in the first game of the series after Dodgers reliever Dennis Santana hit Jorge Mateo. Dodgers pitcher David Price acknowledged after the first game that the L.A.-San Diego rivalry hit the "next level" after the benches cleared.

This is the first series between the two clubs since the Dodgers knocked the Padres out of the playoffs last season.

L.A. took the first game 11-6 and won Saturday night's game 2-0.

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