Benches cleared in Thursday’s series finale between the Dodgers and Padres. Both Dave Roberts and Mike Shildt were ejected.
The Dodgers’ NL West 10-game gauntlet has come to a close, with the Dodgers taking 7 out of their last 10 games against the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.
While their longtime foes in San Francisco didn’t provide any heated moments, the Dodgers’ first series against the Padres at home this year brought an added layer of drama to their blooming rivalry. Throughout the four game series, hitters were drilled eight times, with Shohei Ohtani and Andy Pages bearing the brunt of inside fastballs twice.
Tensions reached their climax after Jack Little struck Fernando Tatís Jr. for his second hit by pitch of the series, collapsing to the ground while both benches and bullpens cleared. Both Dave Roberts and Mike Shildt exchanged expletives with each other, prompting Roberts’ second ejection over his past three games and Shildt’s first ejection of the series.
Both Roberts and Shildt gave their perspectives on the bench-clearing incident, with Roberts downplaying any potential intent behind any of the hit batsman regardless of team, per Fabian Ardaya and Dennis Lin of The Athletic.
“I can honestly say none of the guys that were hit by them, by us, was with any intent, not at all,” Roberts said Wednesday when asked if there would be any carry-over from Tuesday night’s escalation. Later, he added, “I don’t think it’s very raw for us.”
“After a while, enough’s enough,” Shildt said after a game in which Tatis was hit by a Dodgers pitcher for the third time in a span of 10 days. “Intentional, unintentional, the fact of the matter is, I took exception with it. And I’m responsible for my actions, and I recognize that’s one of the few times that I’m going to instill myself in the game.”
If it’s any consolation, the Dodgers already have the same amount of wins than they did all of last year in 13 games against San Diego.
Links
- Earlier on Thursday, ICE agents attempted to enter Dodger Stadium through Gates A and E, but were quickly turned away by security staff. Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register has more on Thursday morning’s incident.
- Huston Mitchell of the Los Angeles Times previously labeled Roy Campanella as the greatest Dodgers catcher. Now he reveals who is the greatest Dodgers first baseman in the latest edition of Dodgers Dugout.