Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. calls post-homer trolling of Trevor Bauer 'payback time'

Fernando Tatis Jr. elevated the San Diego Padres-Los Angeles Dodgers rivalry with one simple action. 

The Padres star shortstop launched two home runs off Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer on Saturday. After the first homer, Tatis celebrated by closing one of his eyes, mimicking Bauer for occasionally pitching with one eye closed. After he took one deep for the second time, Tatis imitated a strut popularized by UFC star Conor McGregor, which Bauer often uses after dominant half-innings.

After the game, which the Dodgers won 5-4, Tatis admitted he was just having fun with the home run celebrations, adding that it was "payback time."

"It's just fun," Tatis said, according to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez. "When you know you're facing a guy like that -- he's doing his stuff, he's having fun on the mound, and when you get him you get him, and you celebrate, too. He's a hard guy to deal with."

After also taking Clayton Kershaw deep twice on Friday night, Tatis became the first player ever with back-to-back, two-homer games against Cy Young Award winners.

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

The 22-year-old will have the opportunity to help the Padres tie the series on Sunday before facing the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.