Late last night the Padres stunned the Dodgers, with a game-winning triple play in the bottom of the ninth inning. Los Angeles had already scored a run in the inning making the score 4-2 Padres. LA had a man on first and second with Miguel Rojas at the plate
and the dangerous Shohei Ohtani waiting on deck. But Ohtani didn’t even get the chance at walking it off, as Rojas grounded to the Padres third baseman Manny Machado who stepped on third and completed a 5-4-3 triple play.
“How much better? In a tough spot there, 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 excitedly post-game.
This electrifying win against the Dodgers clinched a playoff birth for the Padres, their first since the COVID season in 2020. “Obviously there’s so many great teams, but we feel like we’re as dangerous as anybody. It’s a complete team. Every night somebody else steps up. I’m so proud and so happy to be with this group. They deserve it. We’re looking forward to a big run,” said Padres general manager A.J. Preller.
The Padres have been one of the hottest teams in baseball, and if their winning streak continues, they could find themselves as division champions. San Diego is now just two games behind the Dodgers for the lead in the NL West with two more games in LA. Although it is unlikely, if the Padres can take the next two and sweep their series in Arizona there’s a chance they could wear the NL West Crown.
