This week’s four-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres culminated in a heated Thursday night finale on June 19, 2025. Eight hit-by-pitches across the series, including three to Padres’ superstar Fernando Tatis Jr., have raised concerns and accusations, as the managers Dave Roberts and Mike Shildt throw dirt at each other, calling out each other’s intent.
As Hit by Pitches Pile Up, Mike Shildt And Dave Roberts Face Each Other
The drama began in Tuesday’s game when Dodgers reliever Lou Trivino struck Tatis Jr. with a 95 mph sinker in the third inning. Just one week earlier, Trivino had hit Tatis with a nearly identical 95.5 mph pitch, pushing Padres manager Mike Shildt to question the intent.
The situation escalated when Padres starter Randy Vásquez hit Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani in the leg later in the same inning, resulting in warnings from umpires to both teams. Roberts didn’t mince words, asserting Vásquez’s pitch was intentional.
“Absolutely,” Roberts said. “He hasn’t come close. If they feel that’s warranted, part of baseball. Own it, and we move on.” Vásquez, through interpreter Jorge Merlos, denied the accusations, saying, “It wasn’t intentional at all.”
Before the series finale, Roberts addressed Shildt’s insinuations about Trivino’s intent during his post-game interview. “We’re not trying to hit the first batter of the game,” Roberts said. “Trivino’s a sinker-ball guy. He lost it, but as [Shildt] said, it never feels good.”
Padres manager Mike Shildt pointed out last night that Lou Trivino has now hit Fernando Tatis Jr. twice, and suggested it was intentional.
Dave Roberts is having none of that. pic.twitter.com/SYt500EMoJ
— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) June 18, 2025
“I absolutely respect that. But I can honestly say none of the guys hit by us had any intent.” Roberts emphasized Trivino’s role was to get right-handed hitters out, not to target them, framing the incidents as part of pitching inside aggressively.
Final Hit
The series finale saw tempers flare again. In the ninth inning, Dodgers reliever Jack Little hit Tatis, marking the third time this season a Dodgers pitcher has plunked the Padres’ star. Shildt stormed out of the dugout, and both benches cleared in a tense standoff. Roberts could be seen exchanging words with Shildt as tempers ran high. Tatis was later removed for a pinch-runner.
After Fernando Tatis Jr becomes the seventh hit batter of the series, it appears Dave Roberts and Mike Shildt plan to meet by the flagpole after school gets out. pic.twitter.com/kdpCQypu2C
— Rowan Kavner (@RowanKavner) June 20, 2025
The drama didn’t end there. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Padres closer Robert Suarez hit Ohtani, leading to Suarez’s ejection. Ohtani, ever the calming presence, waved off his teammates to prevent further escalation. The eight hit-by-pitches over the series made the matches look more like dodgeball than baseball.
https://t.co/do7zEyLvQu pic.twitter.com/p0VbTipwPl
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) June 20, 2025
As Shildt noted, “Things happen in baseball,” but with this rivalry showing no signs of cooling, the next meeting between these two clubs could be bloodier than it already is.