Manny Machado made a game-ending triple play, helping the San Diego Padres secure a postseason spot with a 4-2 win against the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.
Jake Cronenworth hit a two-run homer early in the game for the Padres, who are now guaranteed at least a National League wild card with five games left in the regular season. They are now just two games behind the Dodgers with two more games left in this important series at Dodger Stadium.
“Just to get this lead back up to three, it’s really important,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
In the ninth inning, the Dodgers scored once and had runners on first and second when Miguel Rojas hit a hard ground ball to Machado at third base. The former Dodger stepped on the bag and completed a triple play to end the game.
“We’ve got to give Manny credit,” Roberts said. “He made a heck of a play.”
Earlier in the game, the Dodgers hit into two double plays.
San Diego’s celebration was put on hold when the Dodgers challenged the out call at second base, but the decision was confirmed after a replay review.
“It’s shocking,” Roberts said about the ending. “It’s the least likely outcome.”
The Padres, currently in second place, have won four straight games and nine of their last ten. San Diego also holds the tiebreaker against Los Angeles, boasting an 8-3 record in their head-to-head matchups.
“We’re going to enjoy tonight, enjoy this game, enjoy the celebration,” Machado said, “but the job’s not finished yet.”
The Dodgers still have a magic number of four to clinch the division title.
San Diego’s four runs came with two outs in front of 50,369 fans who created a playoff atmosphere for the opening game of this crucial three-game series. They chanted “MVP! MVP!” for Shohei Ohtani while booing Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. loudly.
“How much better in a tough spot than with Ohtani in the on-deck circle we turn a triple play to end the game against one of the best teams in baseball?” Machado said.
Cronenworth had not produced any RBIs in September until he scored three against the Padres’ biggest rivals, including his 12th career homer against the Dodgers. Before that, he had not hit an extra-base hit in his last 50 at-bats.
Padres starter Michael King (13-9) allowed one unearned run and three hits over five innings. He struck out three batters and walked two.
San Diego increased its lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning with Xander Bogaerts’ RBI single and Cronenworth’s RBI double.
The Dodgers scored their first run in the first inning due to a throwing error by Bogaerts at shortstop, which allowed Ohtani to score after he led off with a ground-rule double. That marked his 95th extra-base hit of the season, setting a franchise record.
Mookie Betts reached first when Bogaerts’ throw on a routine ground ball went into the Padres’ dugout, letting Betts advance to second base.
“We had opportunities and the only run we scored we got gifted from an error,” Roberts said. “We just couldn’t get a hit with runners in scoring position.”
Rookie starter Landon Knack (3-5) allowed four runs and five hits in four innings for Los Angeles. He struck out four and walked one.
Knack struggled in the fourth inning, needing 39 pitches after only throwing 38 in the first three innings. He had a balk and a wild pitch, and the Padres stole a base during that inning.
The Dodgers left the bases loaded in the second inning when Betts struck out swinging.
