Fernando Tatis Jr.‘s hit-by-pitch on Thursday set off a vicious four-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres that ended in a brawl in the ninth inning.
In the eighth inning, with the Dodgers trailing by three runs, the team introduced youngster Jack Little for his Major League debut. As the right-hander gave up four hits, two earned runs, a walk, and—most importantly—that HBP, it wasn’t the easiest debut.
Tatis was hit on the right wrist by a fastball that Little hit high and inside on a 1-1 count. A frightened rookie who obviously lacked command would chalk that up as a poor pitch in many games.
However, the Padres regarded it as a final chance before the two teams split up until mid-August after six hit-by-pitches in the series, some of which were obviously retaliatory.
As he neared his player, Padres manager Mike Shildt stormed onto the field and scolded the Dodgers dugout. Dave Roberts, the manager of the Dodgers, came out to, uh, talk to his coworker about it.
There was a lot of pushing and clearing of benches.
Benches have cleared in the Padres-Dodgers game after Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch pic.twitter.com/pG7P3nmDoM
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 20, 2025
According to the Dodgers broadcast, Roberts was pushed into the netting behind home plate during the altercation while shouting, “We’ll talk later!” at Shildt.
