Monday night’s clash between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres had all the tension of October in June. Shohei Ohtani made his long-awaited Dodgers pitching debut. L.A. was riding a two-game winning streak. San Diego, desperate to avoid falling further behind, handed the ball to Dylan Cease, one of their few dependable arms this season.
And then came the fourth inning.
With the Dodgers already leading and the game teetering on blowout status, Cease hit outfielder Andy Pages with a 98-mph fastball. Pages, clearly not buying the idea that it was accidental, glared at Cease as he made his way to first base. The benches didn’t clear, but both bullpens stirred. Tensions simmered.
“I think they thought I was relaying signs,” Pages said postgame, referencing chatter from the Padres dugout. “It’s impossible that he can’t miss a slider on the corner and he missed a fastball a strike zone inside.”
Whether or not the pitch was intentional, Pages’ reaction—and Cease’s—have turned the 24-year-old Cuban outfielder into something bigger than a name in the box score. He’s now the face of a Dodgers team that’s tired of being tested, both literally and figuratively.
Cease Says He’s Not Backing Down
Cease, to his credit, didn’t backpedal. He told reporters he was confused by the reaction and made it clear he’ll continue to pitch inside.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever hit a Dodger before,” Cease said. “It’s not going to deter me from throwing inside.”
That might sound like standard pitcher-speak, but in the context of this rivalry—especially after Manny Machado’s past dustups with Dodgers players—it feels like fuel on a fire.
It’s also a statement the Dodgers won’t forget if these two teams meet again with more on the line.
Pages Shows the Fire L.A. Needs
What makes this situation more than a mid-June flare-up is the symbolic role Pages now plays. The Dodgers aren’t just a collection of stars—they’re a team looking to get younger and hungrier. Pages, hitting .282 with power and poise since being called up, represent that next wave. And he just sent a message to the Padres and anyone else paying attention: he won’t be intimidated.
“I reacted on adrenaline,” Pages admitted. “What happened, happened. I tried to find a way to apologize”
It’s hard to imagine Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman reacting that way—not because they wouldn’t be upset, but because veterans often absorb these moments with restraint. But for a team that’s frequently accused of being too polished and too corporate, a little visible fire might be precisely what they need.
What’s Next?
For now, MLB likely won’t take action. There was no fight, no ejections, just tension. But the incident adds fuel to a rivalry that’s struggled to live up to its billing since the Padres upset the Dodgers in the 2022 playoffs.
As for Pages, he’s already moved on.
But make no mistake—Pages just earned his stripes in Dodger Blue. And the next time Dylan Cease steps on the mound, both dugouts will remember what happened in the fourth inning. Because sometimes it’s not just about the hit—it’s about how you stand after it.
