On a thrilling Tuesday night, the San Diego Padres clinched a spot in the postseason with a 4-2 victory over the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, highlighted by an incredible game-ending triple play initiated by Manny Machado.
The Padres, who are currently riding a hot streak, are now just two games behind the Dodgers as they enter the final stretch of the regular season, with only five games left to play. Jake Cronenworth made a significant impact early in the game by hitting a two-run homer, contributing to a remarkable run that includes four straight wins and nine victories in their last ten outings.
As the ninth inning progressed, the Dodgers managed to score once and had runners on first and second. That’s when Miguel Rojas hit a sharp grounder to Machado at third base, setting the stage for an extraordinary triple play. Machado stepped on the bag and quickly executed the play, sealing both the game and the Padres’ playoff berth.
Although there was a brief delay as the Dodgers challenged the out call at second base, the decision stood after a replay review. This led to a wave of excitement from San Diego fans, who created a playoff-like atmosphere with 50,369 attendees.
San Diego now holds the tiebreaker against the Dodgers, sporting an impressive 8-3 record in their head-to-head meetings. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have a magic number of four to secure the division title.
The Padres scored all four of their runs with two outs, and Cronenworth’s performance was especially noteworthy after a quiet September without RBIs. Xander Bogaerts also made a contribution with an RBI single and solid defense, although he had a costly throwing error that allowed Shohei Ohtani to score in the first inning.
Starting pitcher Michael King delivered a solid performance for the Padres, allowing just one unearned run while striking out three over five innings. In contrast, Dodgers rookie starter Landon Knack struggled, surrendering four runs in four innings and showing inconsistency, needing 39 pitches to navigate the fourth inning alone.
As the Padres seek to maintain their momentum in this crucial series, the atmosphere is electric, with players and fans alike buzzing with excitement about what lies ahead in the postseason.
About the author