Manny Machado used the savviest base running to legally block Freddie Freeman's throw in Game 3

The San Diego Padres head into Wednesday’s Game 4 needing just one more win to eliminate their NL West rival Dodgers, and if they pull it off, it’ll be difficult to overlook that six-run second inning in Game 3.

One move, in particular, from Manny Machado started it all and left Dodgers fans crying foul.

After Machado led off that second inning with a single, Jackson Merrill’s grounder to Freddie Freeman at first base very well could have led to a fielder’s choice out at second. But some savvy base running from Machado sent the inning into a spiral for the Dodgers.

Manny Machado advances to third on a throwing error by Freddie Freeman pic.twitter.com/FEOpgsUIvm

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 9, 2024

Machado knew where Freeman fielded the ball, so in a veteran move, he took a dramatically inside path to second base. At one point, Machado was even running in the infield grass. Now, it reasonably looked like an illegal play, but what Machado did there was within his right as a base runner.

For the "Manny Machado was out of the base path" chatter on the timeline, here is the explanation of why it's not illegal: pic.twitter.com/CzKBSTDVsf

— Down The Line Baseball (@DownTheLineBB) October 9, 2024

According to MLB rules, an established base path exists between home and first base. Other than that, the base runner establishes his base path while advancing to the other bases. If he’s not deviating from that path to avoid a tag or intentionally blocking a throw, then the runner can take an inside route if he chooses. Machado didn’t intentionally block a throw either since his path was established before Freeman even threw the ball.

Dodgers fans weren’t happy about it, but Machado’s play was within the rules — and may have flipped the series.