Mike Shildt’s Spectacle: A Night of Drama and Victory for the Padres
May 6, 2025, 01:51 AM ET
NEW YORK — In a game that had all the makings of a classic baseball showdown, San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt found himself at the center of attention, not for his strategic prowess, but for a fiery outburst that saw him toss his glasses in frustration. The incident occurred after the first major league ejection of star slugger Fernando Tatis Jr., and it seemed to ignite a spark in the Padres, who rallied from a three-run deficit in the eighth inning to defeat the New York Yankees 4-3 on a rainy Monday night, extending their winning streak to six games.
The drama unfolded when Tatis was ejected after a strikeout, prompting Shildt to storm onto the field, throwing his lineup card and then his glasses in a fit of rage. The manager’s animated argument with plate umpire Adrian Johnson and first-base umpire Quinn Wolcott was so intense that third-base coach Tim Leiper felt compelled to intervene.
“Shilty came down the tunnel and he was still chirping,” said Xander Bogaerts, who played a pivotal role in the comeback with a go-ahead, two-run single off Luke Weaver following Manny Machado‘s two-run double. “I think he was ready to fight.”
Shildt, reflecting on the incident, said, “My glasses made it. I did have my head about me to make sure. I got some — a lot of BPs on my shoulders — not as operable as I’d like but it came into play, and I made sure it stayed in the grass. I didn’t want them scratched. I like these glasses a lot.”
The Padres’ comeback began when Devin Williams entered with a 3-0 lead and walked Tyler Wade with one out in the eighth, followed by a single from Brandon Lockridge. Williams, known for his signature Airbender changeup, threw four straight to Tatis, who took the third at the bottom of the strike zone for strike two and swung over an even lower pitch.
After the strikeout, Tatis exchanged words with Johnson, leading to his ejection. “Ah, what did I say? I forgot,” Tatis said with a laugh. “I’m just happy I got the boys hyped.” He added, “I’d just been complaining all game. It was a rough night. After the strikeout I just let him know what I thought.”
The Padres were clearly energized by the incident. “You can feel it. It’s energy,” Wade commented. Three-time batting champion Luis Arraez then walked on four straight fastballs, adding to the momentum.
“Tatis made me hot,” Arraez said. “I love Mike Shildt. He supports his players, and when I saw that thing, I said: ‘We come back!'”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone brought in Weaver, who had not given up a run in 13 appearances this season. However, Machado doubled on a 1-1 fastball, cutting the deficit to 3-2, and Bogaerts followed with a single on a first-pitch cutter, sealing the comeback.
Shildt explained his perspective on the ejection, saying, “Tati had some pitches that [he] didn’t agree with — I didn’t agree with earlier and made my comments from the dugout known, which I don’t do a ton. Did it. Walks away, hand over his mouth, and next thing you know he’s ejected walking away with his back turned for his first major league ejection.”
For Shildt, this marked the 15th ejection of his six-season big league managerial career. “I probably have the fewest amount of player ejections in my time managing, so our players play, they stay in the game, they’re very respectful, rightfully so, to the umpires,” he said. “I’ll let the body of the work for the umpire grade speak for itself, and we’ll leave it at that.”
- Padres extend winning streak to six games
- Fernando Tatis Jr. experiences first major league ejection
- Mike Shildt’s fiery reaction energizes the team
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
