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Home runs have been an infrequent occurrence for Victor Robles over the last few years. The Nationals outfielder has averaged one for every 100 trips he鈥檚 made to the plate since 2020, so he鈥檚 tried to enjoy them when he does get ahold of a pitch enough to send it over the wall.
The latest example came Saturday, when Robles took Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner deep for a solo home run in the eighth inning of an eventual 7-2 Arizona win.
Victor Robles stole all the bases with this blast 💥
鈥� Washington Nationals (@Nationals)
Robles took a few extra seconds to watch the ball fly, something the unwritten-rule-following Bumgarner shared his frustration with after the game.
“That guy is a clown.”
Madison Bumgarner didn’t appreciate Victor Robles admiring his home run while down big in the 8th.
鈥� Bally Sports Arizona (@BALLYSPORTSAZ)
鈥淭hat guy is a clown,鈥� Bumgarner said. 鈥淕olly. No shame, no shame. It鈥檚 7-1, you hit your third homer of the year [and] you act like Barry Bonds breaking the record. Clean it up. I don鈥檛 care about giving up the run 鈥� hell, we won 7-2, 8-2, whatever it was. It鈥檚 frustrating. I鈥檓 the old, grumpy guy, I know. But that type of stuff didn鈥檛 used to happen. Now, that鈥檚 ridiculous.鈥�
Speaking through an interpreter, Robles told reporters that Bumgarner 鈥渟eems like he calls everybody a clown that actually has a big hit or home run against him.鈥� The southpaw has called out opposing hitters such as Max Muncy and Yasiel Puig before, growing angry over how much emotion they displayed in the batter鈥檚 box.
So when Robles came out to the dugout for Sunday鈥檚 series finale, he took Bumgarner鈥檚 words to heart.
Victor Robles: not a mad bum.
鈥� Washington Nationals (@Nationals)
TV announcers on both broadcasts enjoyed the bit, while NBA star LeBron James shared a photo on his Instagram story with the caption, 鈥淪omething I would do for sure!鈥� Even Baseball-Reference got in on the fun.
OMG! It’s REAL!!!
鈥� Nationals on Reddit (@NatsOnReddit)
One person who didn鈥檛 enjoy it, however, was Nationals manager Davey Martinez.
Martinez originally defended Robles, saying Saturday he had seen 鈥渨ay, way worse鈥� than what Robles did and that he 鈥渄idn鈥檛 do much to warrant that.鈥� But he thought the clown nose was no laughing matter.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 see it. I heard about it. I鈥檒l talk to him鈥ut yeah, that鈥檚 not who we are, right?鈥� Martinez said in his postgame press conference Sunday, MLB.com鈥檚 Jessica Camerato. 鈥淚t happened. It鈥檚 done. I don鈥檛 want to see that kind of stuff.鈥�
