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Bauer after Tatis mocked him with HR celebrations: 'I'm all for it'

Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Fernando Tatis Jr. added a new element of fun to baseball's hottest rivalry Saturday, and Trevor Bauer loved what he saw from his opponent.

After Tatis launched two home runs off a Cy Young winner for the second straight night, the San Diego Padres shortstop celebrated by mimicking two of Bauer's signature celebrations. The Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher didn't seem to mind.

"He did it in the first … Then he did it again when he homered off me later in the game. ... Their dugout was doing it. I like it," Bauer said, according to SportsNet LA. "I think that pitchers who have it done to them and react by throwing at people or getting upset and hitting people or whatever - I think it's pretty soft."

He continued: "I'm all for it, and I think it's important that the game moves in that direction and we stop throwing at people because they celebrated having some success on the field."

Tatis turned and covered one eye while looking into the Padres' dugout in the first inning, a reference to Bauer's antics during spring training.

The 22-year-old mocked Bauer again in the sixth inning following his second dinger of the night, performing the "billionaire strut" made famous by UFC star Conor McGregor after crossing home plate. Bauer, 30, has taunted hitters with the move in the past.

"It's just fun when you know you're facing a guy like that," Tatis said, according to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell. "He's doing his stuff. He's having fun on the mound. And when you get him, you get him, and you celebrate, too."

Tatis entered the Padres' series against the Dodgers hitting .154 with two home runs. He's been red-hot since the series began, though, going 6-for-14 with four homers and five RBIs.

Though Tatis seemingly won his personal battle with Bauer on Saturday, the Dodgers won 5-4 after Los Angeles rallied against San Diego's bullpen.

The two rivals square off again Sunday, with the Padres leading the weekend series two games to one.

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