Los Angles, CA (News4usOnline) – Juneteenth at Dodger Stadium was an eventful day, to say the least. For what was supposed to be a day of baseball that celebrated freedom and African American culture, it quickly turned into much more.
It all started well before the stadium gates opened, when a group of ICE agents in vans tried to gain access to the parking lots.
Team security denied the agents’ entry onto the property, sparking morning news headlines and speculation as to whether or not the Dodgers‘ series finale against the Padres would be delayed. The Dodgers organization quickly shut down the idea of postponing the event via X.
After the day got off to an unusual start, the mood inside the confines of Dodger Stadium was lifted by the inaugural Mookie Betts Juneteenth Celebrity Softball Game, in honor of Black Heritage Night. Stars across many different professions joined in on the fun, including Lil Wayne (rapper), Jordan Love (NFL quarterback), Victoria Monet (singer), and Miles Brown (actor).
“It was a very special night for me and my family to be able to do something like this. It was my first time putting together an event like that. That is why I was so involved because I literally helped with this whole thing, so it was very near and dear to my heart. I would like to continue to do that and bring some Blacks to baseball,” said Betts.
Former Laker and NBA champion, Matt Barnes, stole the show by hitting a two-run homer in the fourth inning, and followed it up by again knocking one way over the fence with the pressure on, defeating NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Owens in a swing-off to seal the win for his team.
Barnes’ talent on the diamond came as no surprise to Betts, with the Dodgers shortstop saying, “I already knew how that was going to play out.”
After the pregame festivities concluded, it was onto the main event. Los Angeles was looking to complete a four-game sweep against San Diego, and manager Dave Roberts penciled in his A+ lineup with their ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound.
The game did not go as planned for the Dodgers, as they were unable to score any runs until the ninth inning, when the Padres had already built a five-run lead.
Xander Bogaerts got the scoring started for San Diego in the top of the second with a solo home run. Bogaerts went on to finish the game 4-4, a triple shy of a cycle, and recorded a hit in all four innings the Padres managed to put runs on the board.
Tommy Edman was the lone bright spot for the Dodgers, reaching base all four times he came to the plate. Unfortunately, his teammates were unable to bring him home until the ninth inning, when they attempted a late-game comeback that came up just short.
That was not all, though, as the drama that had been brewing all series long reached a tipping point. Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a wild pitch in the top of the ninth, causing a bench-clearing scuffle between the two ballclubs.
The main instigators happened to be the managers from both sides, as Mike Shildt came running out of the dugout with some unfriendly words directed towards the Dodgers’ skipper.
Roberts and Shildt had to be separated by staff and players, but not before some pushing, shoving, yelling, and finger-pointing.
Both managers were ejected, and Tatis was taken to the locker room to be evaluated for a hand injury.
“When talking about intent versus no intent, I think anyone would understand there was no intent there. I didn’t feel good about Tatis, a great player and good guy, getting hit. So (Shildt) comes out and is yelling at me and staring me down, which bothers me,” said Roberts. “I felt he was trying to make it personal with me, which then I took personally, and I just wanted to have a conversation.”
In the ensuing half inning, Shohei Ohtani was hit in the upper back by a 100-mile-per-hour fastball on a 3-0 count. Ohtani represented the eighth batter to be hit by a pitch during the series.
“Whether it was or wasn’t (intentional), enough is enough. We’ve got a guy who is getting X-rays right now, who is one of the best players in the game, and this guy is taking shots,” said Shildt on the pitch that hit Tatis. “After a while, I am not going to take it. Intentional or unintentional, that is how this game is played, and if you want to call it old school, then we will play old school baseball.”
The Dodgers won five of the seven games they played against the Padres over the past two weeks, but the rivalry is as alive as ever. The two clearly do not like each other, and Manny Machado even went as far as to say the Dodgers better “pray” and “put out a candle” as the Padres wait for the results on Tatis’s injury.
Featured Image: Protesters demonstrate outside of Dodger Stadium on June 19, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Dodgers said in a statement that federal ICE agents requested permission to access Dodger Stadium parking lots but were denied entry. (Ringo Chiu via AP)
Benjamin Verbrugge is a reporter for News4usonline who studied journalism at CSU Dominguez Hills. “Sports have brought me much joy throughout my life, and I want to give a little back to something that has meant so much to me.” Email Benjamin at benverbrugge8@gmail.com.
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