On June 19, 2025, the Padres staved off a four‑game sweep at Dodger Stadium with a 5–3 comeback, but things got heated outside of the box score.
In the top of the ninth, Fernando Tatis Jr. was plunked in the hand by Dodgers rookie Jack Little. Soon after during the next half inning, Shohei Ohtani was hit by a pitch from Padres reliever Robert Suarez—both benches emptied, and managers Mike Shildt and Dave Roberts were tossed. It marked the climax of a series where four players were hit, and tensions boiled over.
Tatis left the game after being hit, and the Padres announced he’d need an X‑ray on his hand to determine the extent of the injury. The concern is high given the physical nature of the series and Tatis' importance to the Padres' lineup.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was furious over what he sees as intentional targeting and he publicly accused the Padres of planning these hit‑by‑pitches.
“Absolutely. Absolutely… It was not a misfire. I do feel it was intentional.”
Regarding the confrontation in the ninth: “It was unsettling… If they feel that's warranted on their side … own it. But it’s not a misfire.”
Mike Shildt of the Padres tried to defuse fan aggression: “I know we’re about to go back to San Diego with a very, very loud crowd… but I know also that we’ll stay classy, San Diego.”
He also warned against assaulting batters: “It’s enough… I’ve seen way too many pitchers up and in on Tatis… stay away from his head. That’s just not appropriate.”
Earlier in the series (June 17), Randy Vásquez hit Ohtani and Andy Pages, leading Roberts to accuse them of intentional pitching. Warnings were issued, but hit‑by‑pitches persisted, contributing to the fiery atmosphere
The results of Tatis’s X‑ray are pending. His availability for the rest of the series depends on that outcome. Given the escalating tensions, the next few games could be even more dramatic — expect heightened security, possible ejections, and continued bench‑clearings.
