LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles police are looking for two men who beat and critically injured a San Francisco Giants fan in the Dodger Stadium parking lot after the opening day game.
The victim is a 41-year-old man from the San Francisco Bay Area, according to Los Angeles Police Department Det. P.J. Morris. The man is in critical but stable condition at a local hospital, police said. Earlier Friday, LAPD Sgt. Sanford Rosenberg said the injury was not life-threatening.
Morris said that the man and two friends were walking to their car after Thursday night's season opener, won by the Dodgers, 2-1. All were wearing Giants apparel. Two men, wearing Dodgers gear, followed them and words were exchanged.
The victim was hit in the head, Morris said, and fell to the ground, hitting his head on the pavement. He was then kicked several times in the torso and head. Morris said the suspects fled the scene.
"It's disappointing," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "You don't want to see that. I think everybody likes a rivalry, and people get spirited. I like going to San Francisco, where everybody gets rowdy. But to me, this crosses a line. I know nobody wants to see that. Our organization doesn't want to see it, and San Francisco doesn't want to see it. For me, we're playing a game. I want both cities to like their teams and be spirited and rowdy, but we're playing a game."
Police looked at video footage, but said it was inconclusive. Interviews with several witnesses have taken place. Det. Larry Burcher asked anybody who may have filmed the beating with their cell phones or video cameras to come forward.
"We're very confident there were witnesses, it happened immediately following the game when everybody was coming out," Burcher said.
"It is extremely unfortunate that this incident took place on what was otherwise a great day at Dodger Stadium for tens of thousands of fans," the Dodgers said in a statement. "We're committed to having the most fan and family friendly environment in baseball and will continue to make that a top priority. We are cooperating fully with authorities during their investigation and we wish this fan a speedy recovery."
The stadium has been plagued by opening day violence in the past.
In April 2009, a man stabbed his friend in the stadium parking lot after the home opener, in which the Dodgers beat the Giants 11-1. Arthur Alvarez was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Alvarez, who contended that he was knocked to the ground and acted in self-defense, was later acquitted by a jury.
Information from ESPNLA.com's Eric Neel and Tony Jackson and The Associated Press is included in this report.
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