The rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants continues to simmer: hit-by-pitch and aggressive slides add more fuel to the fire.

The first clash this season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and their arch-rivals, the San Francisco Giants, was fraught with underlying tension. In the series finale today at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that he believes Giants right-hander Logan Webb intentionally struck Dalton Rushing in the ribs with a four-seam fastball in the sixth inning. Roberts believes this was retaliation for Rushing's perceived disrespect toward Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee in a previous game. After being hit, Rushing immediately responded with an aggressive slide: while trying to disrupt a 6-4-3 double play, he slid hard into Giants shortstop Willy Adames, drawing angry stares from several Giants players as he left the field.

Although the Dodgers ultimately won 3-0 and the situation did not escalate further, Giants second baseman Luis Arraez bluntly called Rushing's slide into second base "dirty" after the game.

"The umpire called it a double play because he slid into Willy's feet," said Arraez, who had the Giants' only hit against Tyler Glasnow. "In my opinion, that's not good baseball; it's a dirty play. Thankfully Willy is okay, and we completed the double play. It's a dirty move, but for me, it's also part of baseball."

Roberts' view was similar.

"I liked that too. That's baseball," Roberts said. "They'll hit you; Webb has excellent control, I understand. They'll deny it, that's fine. I also appreciate Rushing's aggressive approach in sliding hard; it wasn't aimed at Adames, and they completed the double play. That's good, unyielding baseball."

The origin of this friction may trace back to the first game of the series three weeks ago. At that time, cameras seemed to capture Rushing saying "F-- em" as he walked back to the Dodgers dugout after tagging out Jung Hoo Lee at home plate in the sixth inning.

When asked about this interaction between Rushing and Jung Hoo Lee, Webb said, "I didn't see that footage."

However, Roberts completely doubts that the Giants team was unaware of it.

"For me, he said what he wanted to say. I don't think it was personal," Roberts said. "But they definitely saw it; it spread all over social media. Webb is old-school; he was protecting his teammate."

Considering that Jung Hoo Lee was injured and left the game after that home-plate collision, Rushing's reaction appeared lacking in sympathy. Jung Hoo Lee aggravated a quadriceps contusion in the collision and exited early. However, the Dodgers catcher denied saying anything disrespectful to Jung Hoo Lee when interviewed by reporters the next day.

Rushing also mentioned that he had spoken with Jung Hoo Lee's close friend and former KBO teammate, Hyeseong Kim, to understand the Giants right fielder's condition and try to calm the situation. He acknowledged the video clip's circulation on social media but stated he didn't care.

"I really don't care," Rushing told reporters yesterday. "I play hard and with passion... That comment wasn't directed at him or anyone specific. I just think some people like to stir things up from nothing."

"I know this kid," said Tony Vitello, who coached at Tennessee before taking over as Giants manager last October. "He's from Tennessee. When I first took over the Tennessee Volunteers, he was playing at Louisville. He always plays with an edge, very competitive... That's just competition."

Rushing did not play yesterday but returned to the starting lineup today and was once again at the center of the drama. The 25-year-old hit a RBI single off Webb in the second inning to give the Dodgers their first lead, then was hit by a pitch and walked again in the sixth inning with one out.

Regarding the pitch that hit Rushing, Webb only said he was trying to throw an "inside fastball."

Nevertheless, under Vitello's leadership, the Giants are clearly attempting to adopt a more aggressive and confrontational style. Vitello is known for injecting intense energy into his teams during his college coaching career.

In the Giants' 3-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on April 16 (US time), benches cleared twice. That game ended with a heated argument between Erik Miller and Sal Stewart. The series of conflicts stemmed from a friction between JT Brubaker and Spencer Steer: ultimately, in the tense series finale at Great American Ball Park, Steer was hit by a pitch from Landen Roupp.

Although emotions did not visibly erupt completely during this week's series in San Francisco, these tensions will undoubtedly become a compelling storyline when these rivals reignite their battle in Los Angeles from May 11 to 14.

"Any time we face these guys, there's a little extra something, isn't there?" Webb said. "It's one of the best rivalries in sports. What excites me is that we showed fierce competitiveness in all three games. I know today's result wasn't ideal, but we felt okay when we returned to the locker room."