Tensions in the ballpark are easing as the Padres take the lead over the Dodgers in the NLDS

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres have sent an email warning to all of their fans attending this week’s National League Division Series games against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park: There will be no tolerance for placing objects on the Throwing pitch “or making bad or offensive comments” to anyone.”

The penalty is immediate expulsion from the stadium without refund.

The Padres weren’t hoping for a repeat of what happened in the seventh inning of Game 2 at Dodger Stadium, when Dodgers fans threw baseballs, beer cans and water bottles onto the field, delaying the start of the inning by about 15 minutes while security and the six referees tried to bring the situation under control.

Cooler heads prevailed at Petco on Tuesday as the Padres earned a 6-5 victory in Game 3.

The best-of-five series between these two heated rivals could end with another win in San Diego on Wednesday. If not, it’s back to hostile Dodger Stadium for the finale on Friday. The sellout crowd of 47,744 waved yellow towels and was quite respectful, unlike their brethren some 120 miles up the coast.

“Baseball is tedious,” Padres third baseman Manny Machado said after the game, declining to address any of Sunday’s shenanigans. “We got 27 outs. This crowd rocked tonight. The city of San Diego deserves it.”

The crowd was boisterous but well-behaved.

“San Diego is San Diego, and LA is LA,” Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada added. “They should let the boys play. We’re out there and guys are throwing beer bottles. If you want to pick up a $30 bottle of beer, go for it. It’s your money you’re wasting. If you want to be banned from the stadium, that’s up to you.”

The Padres were not innocent on Sunday when a trio of their players egged on opposing fans. Jurickson Profar interacted with some fans in the left field seats. Fernando Tatis swiveled his hips toward the fans in the right field pavilion and rubbed his eyes, suggesting they were crybaby. And Machado, in an argument with Dodger starter Jake Flaherty, threw a ball at the screen under the railing that protects the Dodger dugout.

When asked whether his players acted appropriately, Padres manager Mike Shildt said they were simply responding to provocation from the crowd.

“I would have been disappointed in them if they hadn’t,” he said.

Shildt added before Tuesday’s game that he expected fans on hand to defuse tensions.

“We have a very passionate, encouraging, hungry and vocal fan base that knows where the line is,” he said. “You hope that there aren’t one or two people who do anything to cast a bad shadow, which I think is probably exactly what happened in Los Angeles.”

The Dodgers didn’t taunt San Diego fans on Tuesday night. That’s not a message that needs to be conveyed to his players, said manager Dave Roberts.

“I just didn’t feel like there was a reason or need for me to rally the troops,” Roberts said. “I think our guys understand.”

It all started Sunday during the first inning of a 10-2 Padres victory when Profar reached over the low wall into the left field seats to steal a potential home run hit from Mookie Betts amid a crowd of paying customers. Profar clearly had the ball in his glove as Betts rounded the bases. Profar stood with his back to the field and stared at the fans. He could have just thrown the ball back.

“That’s what the fans wanted from me,” Profar said.

Before the start of the seventh period, Profar walked up to one of these fans and handed him another ball. The fan promptly threw it back onto the field.

There are conflicting stories.

That fan, Mario Zazueta, told local television station ABC that he didn’t want the ball.

“Don’t give it to me. I’ll throw it,” he told Profar. “He had a big grin on his face and handed me the ball. As soon as I got it, I just turned around and threw it on the line.”

More balls and trash followed, bringing Shildt onto the field along with Dodger Stadium security. Zazueta was eventually expelled from the stadium.

Profar had a different version.

“They asked for the ball,” he said. “And when I went there and gave it to him, he threw it. They give the impression that I’m the bad guy. I wouldn’t go there just to taunt the fans. But they asked for it.”

Of course, he didn’t have to get involved at all.

In another strange twist Tuesday at Petco, Betts again hit a shot into the left field corner during the first inning, and Profar gave chase, dodging toward the wall and narrowly missing the ball as it cleared the fence. But this time, Betts thought Profar had caught it and circled off the field before touching second base.

When left field umpire Mark Ripperger signaled the home run, Betts had to back off.

“That was pretty funny,” Profar said.

A break in the tension of a tough series.