Padres clinch postseason berth with 4-2 win over NL West-leading Dodgers in opener of crucial series

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Manny Machado started a game-ending triple play and the San Diego Padres clinched a postseason berth with a 4-2 victory over the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.

Jake Cronenworth hit an early two-run homer for the streaking Padres, assured at least a National League wild card with five games left in the regular season. They moved within two games of Los Angeles, with two games remaining in their critical series at Dodger Stadium.

“Just to get this lead back up to three, it's really important,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

After the Dodgers scored once in the ninth inning, they had runners at first and second when Miguel Rojas hit a sharp grounder to Machado at third base. The former Dodger stepped on the bag and went around the horn for a triple play that ended it.

“We've got to give Manny credit,” Roberts said. “He made a heck of a play.”

The Dodgers hit into two double plays earlier in the game.

San Diego's celebration was delayed when the Dodgers challenged the out call at second base, but the ruling was upheld following a replay review.

“It's shocking,” Roberts said of the ending. “It's the least likely outcome.”

The second-place Padres have won four in a row and nine of 10. San Diego owns the tiebreaker against Los Angeles with an 8-3 record in 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' magic number remained 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 opener of the huge three-game series. They chanted “MVP! MVP!” at Shohei Ohtani while mercilessly booing Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.

“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 no RBIs in September until producing three against the Padres' biggest rivals, including his 12th career homer against the Dodgers. He had been without an extra-base hit in his previous 50 at-bats.

Padres starter Michael King (13-9) allowed one unearned run and three hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out three and walked two.

San Diego extended its lead to 4-1 in the fourth on Xander Bogaerts' RBI single and Cronenworth's RBI double.

The Dodgers got on the board in the first on Bogaerts' throwing error at shortstop that scored Ohtani, who led off with a ground-rule double on the first pitch he saw. It was his 95th extra-base hit of the season, a franchise record.

Mookie Betts was safe at first when Bogaerts' throw on a routine grounder went into the Padres' dugout, allowing Betts to take second.

“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) gave up four runs and five hits in four innings for Los Angeles. He struck out four and walked one.

The right-hander unraveled in the fourth, when he needed 39 pitches after throwing just 38 through the first three innings. Knack had a balk and a wild pitch, and the Padres stole a base in the inning.

The Dodgers left the bases loaded in the second when Betts struck out swinging.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Dodgers: Transferred RHP Gavin Stone (right shoulder) to the 60-day IL. ... LHP Anthony Banda (broken left hand) threw a bullpen and is on track to return in the next couple of days. ... LHP Clayton Kershaw (toe) won't face hitters this week.

UP NEXT

Padres: RHP Dylan Cease (14-11, 3.42 ERA) makes his final start before the postseason.

Dodgers: RHP Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.10) is limiting opposing hitters to a .233 average.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

San Diego Padres pitching coach Ruben O. Niebla, center, has beer poured on him as Fernando Tatis Jr. watches after the Padres clinched a playoff spot with a triple play to end their baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., center, celebrates with teammates after the Padres clinched a playoff spot with a triple play to end their baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., left, celebrates with a teammate after the Padres clinched a playoff spot with a triple play to end their baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado celebrates after the Padres clinched a playoff spot with a triple play to end their baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Landon Knack throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padresl, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth, second from left, hits a two-run home run as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Landon Knack, left, washes along with catcher Will Smith, right, and home plate umpire Tripp Gibson during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth, right, scores after hitting a two-run home run as Jackson Merrill waits to congratulate him during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado reacts after striking out during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a double during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Padres clinch postseason berth with 4-2 win over NL West-leading Dodgers in opener of crucial series

San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth, right, gestures as he round first after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Padres clinch postseason berth with 4-2 win over NL West-leading Dodgers in opener of crucial series

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres wrote their own Hollywood ending on the home field of their biggest rivals Tuesday night.

San Diego stunned the Los Angeles Dodgers with a game-ending triple play to preserve a 4-2 victory over the NL West leaders that clinched a playoff spot for the Padres.

“We won it! We won it!” yelled Fernando Tatis Jr.

The party was on in the Padres' darkened clubhouse, with music pumping and lights flashing as players drenched each other in alcohol.

“Couldn’t have scripted it any better, man,” manager Mike Shildt said over the din. “What a play by Manny, a phenomenal play.”

With the Padres leading by three runs in the ninth inning, Kiké Hernández hit an RBI single that cut it to 4-2 and put runners at first and second.

Miguel Rojas hit a sharp grounder to Machado at third base, and he stepped on the bag before going around the horn for the triple play. The Dodgers challenged the out call at second base, but the ruling was upheld after a video review.

Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was left watching from the on-deck circle.

“I’ve been dying to do it for a couple years now,” said a bare-chested Machado, wearing sunglasses as a fragrant mix of beer and champagne dripped from every pore. “He showed bunt the first play. Thinking he was going to bunt — he hit a groundball right at me.”

The only other teams to turn a triple play on the same day they clinched a postseason berth were the 2020 Milwaukee Brewers, and the Chicago Cubs in 1910 and 1907, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

San Diego's was the first of those to end the game.

After missing the postseason last year, the Padres earned the eighth playoff berth in franchise history. They are guaranteed at least a National League wild card with five games remaining in the regular season.

“They’re a good frickin’ ballclub on the other side, so we've got to go out there and play better,” Machado said. “We did that tonight.”

Jake Cronenworth hit an early two-run homer, then he and Xander Bogaerts drove in runs in the fourth to give the Padres a 4-1 lead.

Chasing their first division title since 2006, the Padres are two games behind Los Angeles with two games left in their series at Dodger Stadium. San Diego already owns the tiebreaker with an 8-3 record in head-to-head matchups this season.

“It’s a beautiful, wonderful start,” Shildt said. “You've got to get in the playoffs to win it all. It’s just about taking care of business from here on out.”

San Diego has the best record in the majors since the All-Star break at 41-17.

“We enjoy playing every single day. Coming to the ballpark has been fun every single day,” Machado said. “Guys have stepped up big-time. It’s taken a whole effort as an organization to be where we’re at today.”

The Padres (91-66) have their most wins since the 1998 NL championship team finished the regular season 98-64 — and they have designs on winning their first World Series title to honor Peter Seidler, the owner who died last year at age 63.

“He’s been with us all year,” Machado said. “He’s shining upon us right now, smiling down enjoying this moment, enjoying this victory with us, enjoying this celebration.”

Seidler had strong ties to the Dodgers. He was the grandson of Walter O’Malley, who owned the Brooklyn Dodgers and relocated them to the West Coast in 1958, and the nephew of Peter O’Malley, who inherited the team along with Seidler’s mother Terry.

“Peter started us off years ago and here we are,” Machado said. “We’re doing it for him.”

The Padres came out on the field in the empty stadium and chanted “Manny! Manny!” while posing for photos.

San Diego earned a wild card in 2022 and eliminated the Mets and Dodgers from the playoffs before losing to Philadelphia in the NL Championship Series.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael King throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth, left, heads to first for a two-run home run as Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Landon Knack watches during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth, right, scores after hitting a two-run home run as Jackson Merrill waits to congratulate him during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

San Diego Padres' Jake Cronenworth, right, gestures as he round first after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)