SAN DIEGO -- Padres manager Mike Shildt came to the defense of third baseman Manny Machado on Tuesday, one day after Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he felt Machado had intentionally thrown a baseball in his direction between innings.

Speaking before Game 3 of a hotly contested National League Division Series between the two Southern California rivals, Shildt mostly expressed a desire to ¡°just go play baseball.¡± But he vehemently backed Machado in the process.

¡°Listen, I got into this game to help players get the most out of their God-given ability and to compete on the field and respect the opponent,¡± Shildt said. ¡°I'm not, nor will I ever disparage another player on another team, especially anybody I've managed in the past. Nor will I do it to a collective team. That's not how I want to operate. I have a lot of respect for their club, the players on their club.

¡°As far as Manny goes, it's unfortunate people can't move on from things from the past. I thought Manny's exhibition of professionalism and leadership was on display the other night in a very tough environment.¡±

The incident in question occurred prior to the bottom of the sixth inning in Sunday's Game 2, after the Padres had completed their warm-ups. In the top half of the frame, Dodgers right-hander Jack Flaherty plunked Fernando Tatis Jr. with a fastball. Flaherty later struck out Machado, and he had some choice words for the Padres' slugger afterward.

The following half inning, Machado flung a baseball toward the Los Angeles dugout. Videos showed the ball hitting the net in front of Roberts. Dodgers left fielder Teoscar Hern¨¢ndez took immediate exception, standing next to Roberts, who didn¡¯t appear to notice anything at first. It sparked a shouting match between Machado, at third base, and Flaherty, on the top step of the dugout.

During the NLDS workout day on Monday, Roberts was asked about the incident.

¡°I didn¡¯t see it at the time,¡± Roberts said. ¡°I did see the video. And it was unsettling. Obviously I have a relationship with Manny from years past. There was intent behind it. It didn't almost hit me because there was a net. And that was very bothersome. If it was intended at me ¡­ it's pretty disrespectful.

¡°So I don't know his intent. I don't want to speak for him. But I did see the video. And the ball was directed at me with something behind it.¡±

The throw didn¡¯t become a talking point until after Sunday¡¯s game had ended, when Flaherty made the accusation. At the time, Machado responded by saying, ¡°I throw balls all the time into the dugouts. Both dugouts. They have bat boys, you throw the ball back in there.¡±

The Dodgers contended that this was no normal between-innings lob. Machado, speaking on Sunday, seemed to imply that it was at least somewhat retaliatory, pivoting to Flaherty¡¯s plunking of Tatis.

Roberts and Flaherty were vehement in saying that the hit by pitch was unintentional, and Tatis even acknowledged as much.

¡°Anyone understands that you don't do that -- intentionally put the leadoff man on base with 3-4-5 coming up,¡± Roberts said. ¡°It just makes no sense.¡±

Machado made it clear after the game that he disagreed. But as for the idea that Machado threw a baseball at Roberts with any purpose, Shildt thought that to be an unfair assumption.

¡°I don't think there was any intent at all with that,¡± Shildt. ¡°Manny has exceptional arm talent. I think he proved that on the triple play.¡±

Los Angeles third baseman Max Muncy indicated that, if nothing else, he felt the Padres were doing their best to get under the Dodgers¡¯ skin.

¡°You can't let that affect you,¡± Muncy said. ¡°The Padres, as a team, as a stadium, as an atmosphere, thrive on that kind of emotion. If we play into that, we're playing right into their hands. We've got to focus on ourselves. ¡­ It happened. We move on and we're ready to go out there and play our game tonight.¡±

First pitch in Game 3 is set for Tuesday at 6:08 p.m. PT.