Tensions boiled over Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, as the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres continued their fiery rivalry with another controversial hit-by-pitch incident—this time leading to the early ejection of manager Dave Roberts.
In the third inning, Shohei Ohtani was struck in the thigh by a pitch from Padres starter Randy Vásquez, prompting an immediate and emotional response from Roberts. The skipper took just a few steps out of the dugout before third plate umpire Tripp Gibson ejected him—preemptively, and without a full explanation. The sudden decision drew outrage from Roberts, who has had a rocky history with Gibson, including a controversial obstruction call earlier this season that negated a Dodgers run.
Ohtani Pegged, Roberts Tossed, and Pages Goes Yard — Dodgers-Padres Could Turn Ugly Fast
The pitch that hit Ohtani came one inning after Dodgers reliever Lou Trivino had plunked Fernando Tatís Jr. in the back, setting the stage for what appeared to be a retaliatory move by San Diego. Umpires responded by issuing warnings to both benches, a gesture meant to de-escalate. But Roberts didn’t agree with the equivalence, arguing postgame that Trivino’s pitch wasn’t intentional, while Vásquez’s throw at Ohtani seemed deliberate.
This wasn’t the first sign of rising tensions in the series. On Monday night, Dylan Cease hit Dodgers infielder Andy Pages with a pitch, prompting Pages to stare the pitcher down as he walked to first base. Cease later dismissed the reaction, but the moment clearly struck a nerve with the Dodgers—and added fuel to Tuesday’s fireworks.
Even without their manager, LA kept their focus. Pages responded in a big way, launching his second home run of the night shortly after Roberts’ ejection, giving the Dodgers momentum and the crowd something to cheer about.
Tuesday marked Roberts’ 13th career ejection and his first of the 2025 season. With two more games left in the series and both teams battling for playoff position in the NL West, the emotional intensity is unlikely to fade. Whether retaliation continues or tensions simmer just beneath the surface, one thing is certain: the Dodgers-Padres rivalry is as heated as ever, and now, it’s deeply personal.