Dodger Stadium took unexpected measure to prevent unruly behavior for Padres series

After a violent fan altercation during the Freeway Series finale between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels resulted in a pair of arrests at Angel Stadium last week, Dodger Stadium personnel evidently took note ahead of this weekend's home series against the San Diego Padres.

With tensions expected to be heightened during the National League West showdown, the Dodgers planned ahead and roped off the standing room section of the concourse that surrounds the Padres bullpen for Friday night's game (which the Dodgers won, 3-2).

The Dodgers' Friday victory brings them even with their rivals atop the NL West standings after the Padres knocked them out of first place earlier in the week. Los Angeles now leads the season series, 6-2, with five games remaining.

Dodger Stadium took unexpected (but sadly, necessary) measure to prevent unruly behavior during Padres series

The measure to remove fans from the area around the Padres' bullpen may seem extreme at first glance, but multiple fan incidents throughout baseball this season have all but made it necessary – especially for an August series between division rivals that could have postseason implications.

The Cleveland Guardians banned a fan from Progressive Field in April after he taunted Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran about his suicide attempt. In June, Major League Baseball banned a fan from all MLB stadiums after he heckled Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte about his deceased mother.

There was also an incident in June at Comerica Park, where a Detroit Tigers fan heckled Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Dennis Santana about his father – who had died earlier this year – while he was warming up in the bullpen. Things got so heated that Santana tried to climb up the wall and take a swing at the fan before the fan was eventually removed by security. Santana ended up having to pay an undisclosed fine and received a four-game suspension that was reduced to three games after an appeal.

Of course, the easiest solution here would be for baseball fans to simply behave normally at games. Apparently that's too much to ask, however, so the Dodgers took preemptive measures ahead of their series against their hated division rivals.

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