SAN DIEGO -- Padres closer Robert Suarez was suspended three games for hitting Shohei Ohtani in Thursday’s series finale against the Dodgers, Major League Baseball announced on Friday.
Suarez plans to appeal that suspension on the grounds that he didn’t do so intentionally, meaning he will be available to pitch for the Padres until a ruling is finalized.
Padres manager Mike Shildt and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts were handed one-game bans for their roles in Thursday’s fracas, in which Roberts pushed Shildt, prompting the benches and bullpens to empty. Shildt had directed his ire at Roberts after Fernando Tatis Jr. was plunked in the top of the ninth inning by a fastball from Dodgers righty Jack Little.
X-rays on Tatis’ right hand were negative Thursday night, though he underwent further testing on Friday to confirm those results. An MRI and a CT scan also came back negative, and Tatis was in the starting lineup, batting first, for the series opener against Kansas City.
“The candle worked,” Shildt said with a wry grin -- referring to Padres third baseman Manny Machado, who said on Thursday that the Dodgers would “need to set a little candle up for Tatis tomorrow, and hope that everything comes back negative.”
Warnings were issued after Tatis was hit in the top of the ninth inning. After Suarez plunked Ohtani in the bottom of the frame -- the second time in three days that both superstars had been hit during the same inning -- the right-hander was promptly ejected.
Suarez declined comment on Thursday night in the immediate aftermath of the incident. But he denied intent on Friday as he spoke with reporters about the hit by pitch and the ensuing ejection.
“It wasn’t intentional,” he said through interpreter Pedro Gutiérrez. “That decision was made by the umpires. I knew there was a warning issued to both clubs. But I obviously wasn’t trying to hit him in that situation. It was just a call from the umpires.”
The Dodgers loudly disagreed with that notion, with Roberts saying Thursday, “There was clearly intent behind it.”
But Shildt defended Suarez on Friday and said the Padres were optimistic he might have the length of his suspension reduced, particularly given the game situation -- with Ohtani reaching first base as the tying run in the ninth inning of an important game.
“There’s a strong appeal to lessen it,” Shildt said. “I don’t think it’s going to go away unfortunately -- but at a minimum, lessen the games.”
As for Shildt’s suspension, he said that he understood the league’s perspective and would serve it immediately without issue. Roberts will serve his suspension Friday, as well. Per MLB, the two managers were suspended “for unsportsmanlike conduct and for contributing to inciting the benches-clearing incident.”
Roberts’ suspension stemmed largely from making contact with Shildt. Meanwhile, a one-game ban is typical for the manager of a pitcher who is ejected for hitting a player after warnings are issued.
“I understand it,” Shildt said. “I accept my responsibility in it. I’ll serve my game tonight, and we’ll move on.”
Shildt was asked Friday whether the feud between he and Roberts had turned personal. Shildt mostly demurred, but he brought up his displeasure about the way Roberts reacted during last season’s NLDS when Machado tossed a ball in Roberts’ direction.
“It’s ultimately about the defense of our team,” Shildt said. “I’m not a [take-it]-personal guy. I’m not a grudge guy. But I am a foxhole guy.”
Bench coach Brian Esposito served as acting manager in Shildt’s place on Friday. Because warnings had been issued on Thursday night, Esposito was mandatorily ejected when Ohtani was plunked. Shildt had already been ejected for his role in the fracas in the top of the inning. The Padres finished the game -- a 5-3 victory -- with field coordinator Robby Hammock serving as acting manager.