The Los Angeles Dodgers have been the gold standard in baseball for years, but on Sunday night, their fans were anything but championship-caliber. As the Dodgers trailed the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, a mass exodus began at Dodger Stadium — and it wasn't because of a sudden urge to beat the traffic. No, this was a playoff game, and the home crowd was heading for the exits with their team still very much in the fight.
Ken Sugiura of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution captured the scene on social media, posting footage of fans streaming toward the gates after the eighth inning. The image was stark: a sea of blue jerseys disappearing into the concourse, leaving the remaining faithful to wonder what just happened. The Dodgers had just two innings to mount a comeback, and the crowd was bailing like it was a spring training game.
It didn't take long for the criticism to pour in. MLB fans, especially those from rival fan bases, were quick to mock the "spoiled" Dodgers supporters. "IT'S A TWO-RUN GAME IN THE 9TH INNING IN OCTOBER! Wow," one fan wrote on social media. Another added, "Just the absolute worst. Ohtani could have been a Cub and been a legend for life." The sentiment was echoed across the internet, with many pointing out that such behavior would never fly in other baseball towns.
"If this happened at Truist, it would be a national story. Instead, we get crickets…not unlike the Dodgers’ ownership scandal dumpster fire," one fan posted, referencing the team's recent off-field issues. Another chimed in, "Hmm, those playoff crowds. I thought LA was suppose to be elite baseball fans these days." The criticism even veered into the personal, with one fan writing, "What an embarrassment. Its 8pm on a Sunday in a 3-1 game and you leave??"
The timing couldn't be worse for the Dodgers. The series is now tied at 1-1, and the next two games are in Atlanta. If the Braves win both, the series is over, and the Dodgers' season ends without a return trip to Los Angeles. The early exits might not affect the outcome on the field, but they've certainly added fuel to the narrative that Dodgers fans are fair-weather at best.
This isn't the first time a fan base has faced scrutiny for bailing early. Just last month, Eagles fans faced similar backlash after a loss, and the US Open crowd drew criticism for its behavior. But for a team with the Dodgers' pedigree, the optics are especially damaging. The team has been a powerhouse for years, and their fans are expected to show up, not show out.
As the series shifts to Atlanta, the Dodgers will need all the support they can get. But if the fans can't stick around for a ninth-inning rally, maybe they don't deserve to see one. The Braves, meanwhile, are relishing the chance to play in front of a raucous home crowd at Truist Park, where the atmosphere is sure to be electric. The Dodgers' faithful, on the other hand, might be better off watching from the comfort of their couches — at least until the game is over.
