San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. and Los Angeles’ Shohei Ohtani were both hit by pitches during the third inning of the Dodgers’ 8-6 win over the Padres.
In the top of the third inning, Dodgers pitcher Lou Trivino threw a sinker that hit Fernando Tatis Jr. in the back. This happened just one day after Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease hit the Dodgers’ Andy Pages on his left elbow with a fastball, a play that Pages said he felt was done intentionally.
“Things happen in baseball,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt after the game. “Guys are trying to pitch in. Guys are trying to make quality pitches.”
Fernando Tatis Jr. was not happy after getting hit by a pitch in the 3rd inning 👀
Andy Pages just got hit yesterday.
Dodgers vs Padres off to a feisty start again! pic.twitter.com/QZPwSV568T
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) June 18, 2025
The Padres clearly took exception to Trivino’s pitch, regardless of whether it was intentional or not. In the bottom of the third inning, San Diego’s Randy Vasquez hit LA’s Shohei Ohtani in the right quad, which led to umpires issuing warnings to both teams. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t like that his squad was issued a warning, which led to him coming out of the dugout and yelling at third-base umpire Tripp Gibson after Roberts was ejected from the game.
“I didn’t feel a warning on both sides was warranted,” Roberts said after the win. “I just wanted to know an explanation. I wanted an explanation on their thought process. I didn’t come in hot. I just wanted to know why; why they issued [the warnings]. I realized later I got tossed, which I didn’t understand or appreciate. Even looking back, to see Mike (Shildt) get the opportunity to talk to umpires after I was tossed and [get] their explanation, and he was still in the game. I think what anyone wants is consistency, right?”
According to ESPN, Randy Vasquez said that hitting Ohtani “wasn’t intentional.” However, Dave Roberts felt that wasn’t true. When asked if he thought Vasquez hit Ohtani deliberately, Roberts responded, “Absolutely.”
“This guy. He hasn’t come close. For me, if they feel that’s warranted on their side – part of baseball – that’s what they feel,” he said. “I give him credit because they hit him in the leg. Own it, and we move on. It’s not a misfire. I do feel it was intentional. Again, that’s part of baseball, which we all understand.”
Fernando Tatis Jr was hit by a pitch and the Padres responded by immediately hitting Shohei Ohtani 👀
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) June 18, 2025
Expectedly, Mike Shildt defended his pitcher.
“Just trying to make quality pitches and fight for the inner half part of the plate,” he said. “The ball got away from Vasquez. I understand they have to do it at that point. There wasn’t any complaint from my side.”
The plunking didn’t stop after that. In the seventh inning, Dodgers reliever Matt Sauer hit San Diego’s Jose Iglesias in the left wrist. Shildt said that he didn’t feel that pitch was intentional either.
“Thankfully, the X-rays are negative,” Shildt said when discussing the severity of Iglesias’ wrist injury. “He’s going to be sore, obviously, but there’s no fracture on the initial X-rays.”
Dave Roberts was ejected by Trip Gibson after taking two steps onto the field to get an explanation.
This is absolutely embarrassing by Trip Gibson. To eject a 2x World Series winning, future Hall of Fame manager for this is ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/Y8GkOzEExQ
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) June 18, 2025
This chippiness has certainly added an extra layer of intensity to an already fierce rivalry between two of the best teams in the National League. In fact, Mike Shildt thinks these recent incidents are good for baseball.
“I think it’s fantastic,” he said. “Look, the best part about a rivalry is people are going to bring their best shot. Good news is both teams are bringing it every night. We love it. We can’t do it, but I wish we played them every night.”
The final contest of the Dodgers’ three-game homestand against the Padres is scheduled for tonight. The first pitch in that game will be at 10:10 p.m. EDT.
