The Dodgers and Padres had been going at it all night in their first meeting of 2021 like two fighters in the middle of a ring.
And then in the bottom of the 10th inning of a tie game at Petco Park, they came even closer.
After Los Angeles’ Dennis Santana hit Jorge Mateo to put runners on first and third with one out, they exchanged words and neared each other as Mateo walked toward first base. Players from both teams rushed in, out of the dugouts and bullpens, but before any punches were thrown, things calmed down.
At that point, Santana gathered himself and fanned Victor Caratini. He then walked Trent Grisham to load the bases. With the potential winning run on third, Fernando Tatis Jr. came to the plate in his first game back from the injured list.
Santana won this tense battle, catching Tatis looking on a called strike three to send the game to the 11th. Los Angeles then went on to win, 11-6, in the 12th.
“I just think that Mateo just took exception. There was certainly no intent,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I’m glad that it got resolved and Dennis regained his composure to get out of that inning.”
