particular interest in slugger Vladimir Guerrero. On September 16, , Padilla hit Oakland Athletics outfielder Nick Swisher after two pitches earlier in the plate appearances were inside that almost hit Swisher. Swisher then charged the mound starting a brawl and resulting in both players getting ejected. He also has history of hitting former teammate Mark Teixeira on June 6, 2009. In 2006, he and Kevin Millwood won 15 games; a total not matched by a Rangers pitcher until Scott Feldman surpassed it in 2009. His 11 road victories in 2008 matched a club record set by Rick Helling (1998), later surpassed by Scott Feldman (2009). On July 22, 2009, Padilla tested positive for swine flu, and was believed to be the first major U.S. athlete to catch the disease. On August 7, 2009, Padilla was designated for assignment by the Rangers after going 8–6 with a 4.92 ERA in 18 starts. Ten days later Padilla was given his release. He was released because he was "regarded as a disruptive clubhouse presence." Los Angeles Dodgers On August 19, 2009, Padilla signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made one start with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes and then was activated on August 27 to start for the Dodgers against the Colorado Rockies. He made seven starts for the Dodgers in August and September, finishing with a record of 4–0 and a 3.20 ERA. On October 10, 2009, Padilla was the starting and winning pitcher in the clinching Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching seven scoreless innings. He also pitched well in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies, working innings and only allowing one run in a game the Dodgers eventually won. However, he picked up the loss, giving up six earned runs in three innings of work, in the deciding Game 5, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to advance to the World Series for the second straight year. On November 3, 2009, Padilla was injured when he was accidentally shot in the leg at a shooting range in Nicaragua. It was not a serious injury. On January 21, 2010, Padilla re-signed with the Dodgers, a one-year, $5.025 million deal, with $1 million of that in the form of a signing bonus. On March 25, 2010, the Dodgers announced that Padilla would be their opening day starter for the