Clash of Titans: Dodgers and Padres in a Game Marked by Tension
The clash between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres continues to ignite the rivalry on the diamond. The latest encounter, played on Thursday night, was full of drama, with a total of eight batters hit by pitches, including Shohei Ohtani, who was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning. The tension was palpable in Dodger Stadium, where the fans, already in their majority, had left their seats. Ohtani, after being hit by a fastball at 100 mph in the right shoulder blade, calmed the spirits by raising his left hand and asking his teammates not to intervene. The game had already exploded with emotions. In the top of the eighth inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit on the right hand by a 93 mph pitch from Dodgers rookie reliever Jack Little. This incident marked the fifth time the Dodgers have hit Tatis since the start of the 2024 season, including three times in the last nine days. Padres manager Mike Shildt went to the opposing dugout, which led to a confrontation with Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. The situation escalated rapidly, with both teams emptying their benches, although calm was restored before any punches were thrown. At the end of the night, two managers, a bench coach, and a pitcher were ejected. The Padres won 5-3.Tatis, visibly affected, was wearing a bandage on his right hand and expressed his concern about his physical condition. Initial X-rays were inconclusive, and a CT scan was scheduled to determine the severity of the injury.“They need to put a candle out for Tati tomorrow,” Padres star Manny Machado declared. “Hopefully the scans come back negative. It’s not a good place to get hit. I don’t care who it is, I don’t care who’s on the mound.”
Manny Machado
