Spike Steve Pearce on purpose? Perish the thought!
Manny Machado says he and the Red Sox first baseman -- whose foot Machado stepped on when he grounded out in the ninth inning of Game 4, reviving memories of the $10,000 fine he received for stepping on the foot of Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar in the NLCS -- are "almost best friends."
"He was at my wedding; his daughter was my flower girl," Machado told USA Today. "It's late in the year; our legs are giving out on us, and you're just trying to get to first base as fast as possible. Sometimes, it just happens."
Pearce and Machado were teammates on the Orioles from 2012-16. Pearce wasn't available for comment after Game 4, but he didn't appear to react to the contact in any way. He had defending Machado after the Auguilar incident, saying "That's not the type of guy he is . . . he's still one of my favorite guys."
The Red Sox, of course, have their own history with Machado. And that history may get a lot more interesting if, as expected, Machado signs with the Yankees this offseason.
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