The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers finished an emotionally-charged series at Dodger Stadium with both benches clearing in the ninth inning on Thursday night, which has brought about discipline from Michael Hill, MLB’s senior vice president for on-field operations.
Managers Mike Shildt and Dave Roberts were at the center of the fracas after Dodgers rookie Jack Little hit Fernando Tatis Jr. with a pitch during his MLB debut. Shildt stared and shouted toward the Dodgers’ dugout as he went to check on Tatis with a trainer, and that prompted Roberts to confront him over what he perceived to be a “personal” attack.
“The way I saw it, was Jack Little was making his Major League debut, and he’s trying to get through the outing. And we’re trying to get him to finish the game. Obviously, the arm-side miss to Iglesias, walks him, walks in a run, and then he hits Tatis with an arm-side fastball,” Roberts began to explain after the Dodgers’ loss.
“Obviously, I think anyone knows there was no intent. I think even Mike speaking the other day, talking about intent versus no intent, so I think anyone understands there was no intent then. Even by my reaction, I didn’t feel good about Tatis — a great player, great guy — getting hit. I didn’t feel good about it.
“And so as he comes out and he’s yelling at me and staring me down, that bothers me. Because to be quite frank, that’s the last thing I want. I’m taking starters out of the game, trying to get this game over and get this kid a couple innings. So that’s why I took that personal, because I understand the game.
“I understand it doesn’t feel good to get hit, but again, intent versus clearly no intent.”
Then in the bottom of the ninth, Padres closer Robert Suarez hit Shohei Ohtani in the back of his right shoulder on a 3-0 count. Ohtani immediately gestured toward teh Dodgers’ dugout that they not come onto the field. He also shook hands with Luis Arraez at first base and went over to speak with some Padres in their dugout during the pitching change.
“He wasn’t hurt by it, and he didn’t want any more drama, which I respect that a lot,” Roberts said.
It was the second time in the series that Ohtani was hit by pitch. Overall in the four-game set at Dodger Stadium, there were eight hit by pitches.
Padres bench coach Brian Esposito, Shildt, Suarez and Roberts were each ejected on Thursday.
MLB suspensions
Robert Suarez
Suarez was suspended three games and fined an undisclosed amount. He has chosen to appeal the three-game suspension and is eligible to pitch until that process is completed.
Mike Shildt
Shildt was suspended one game and also was fined an undisclosed amount for what MLB deemed “unsportsmanlike conduct and for contributing to inciting the benches-clearing incident.”
Shildt is serving his one-game suspension Friday night, when the Padres host the Kansas City Royals.
Dave Roberts
Likewise, Roberts also received a one-game suspension and was fined an undisclosed amount for his conduct in the incident.
Roberts is serving his suspension on Friday and will return to the dugout for the Dodgers’ second game of their series with the Washington Nationals.
“I think Major League Baseball made the right decision,” Roberts said of MLB suspending himself and Shildt.
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