Dodgers HC Dave Roberts explains fiery reaction following Shohei Ohtani’s hit by pitch vs San Diego Padres

Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a victory in the second game of their series against the San Diego Padres, delivering a strong performance. Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts expressed satisfaction with his team’s success against a formidable opponent but voiced displeasure over an incident involving Ohtani getting hit by a pitch during the matchup.

For the Padres, right-handed pitcher Randy Vazquez played a crucial role, tallying two strikeouts over five innings. However, he drew criticism from Roberts after hitting a second batter, following an earlier incident where Lou Trivino inadvertently struck Fernando Tatis Jr.

Roberts reacted strongly to the umpiring decisions, expressing concern over player safety and questioning the lack of warning issued to both teams. In his post-game commentary, Dodgers head coach conveyed his frustration about the on-field events.

“We accidentally hit Tatis Jr.; it was unintentional, and we found ourselves in a tough position. Then, when Shohei stepped up to the plate, Vazquez plunked him with a pitch. My issue is that if something like that happens, you need to take responsibility. I didn’t see the necessity for a blanket warning to both teams. I wanted to understand the umpires’ rationale,” Roberts explained regarding his response towards the officials.

Video: Ohtani struck by Vazquez

Baseball is a game where unexpected incidents can happen, and pitchers occasionally have off days, leading to mistakes. This might have been the case with Vazquez, who intended to deliver a quality pitch but inadvertently hit Ohtani.

Some fans speculate there was more to the play. After Tatis Jr. was hit by Trivino, Vazquez might have felt compelled to ‘even the score,’ resulting in his strike on the Japanese superstar from their cross-town rivals. While this matchup is highly charged and could suggest a measure of retaliation, the rest of the game proceeded with a serious tone.

Tatis Jr. also struck

The sequence of events began when Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch from Trivino, directly striking his back, which could have resulted in injury due to the force of the hit. Despite the impact and his visible displeasure, Tatis Jr. continued to play.

There didn’t appear to be an immediate justification for hitting Tatis Jr. at the plate, but fans recall an incident during Game 1 of the series when Andy Pages was hit by Padres’ right-hander Dylan Cease, potentially igniting the tensions. Nonetheless, the Padres ended up losing both games in the series, underscoring the importance of focusing on winning rather than engaging in retaliatory plays.