Padres create game-deciding triple play and secure place in the MLB playoffs

Jake Cronenworth hit a two-run home run and a game-ending around-the-horn triple play to help the San Diego Padres secure a spot in the National League playoffs with a 4-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday.

Cronenworth had two hits and three RBIs as the Padres secured their eighth playoff appearance all-time and third since 2020. San Diego (91-66) is two games behind Los Angeles (93-64) in the race for the NL West title with two games remaining in the series and five in the season.

The Dodgers got back on their feet in the ninth inning against right-hander Robert Suarez, starting with three consecutive singles and scoring a run on a hit by Enrique Hernandez.

Los Angeles had runners on first and second base, with Shohei Ohtani's turn to go when Miguel Rojas hit a ground ball to third baseman Manny Machado, who stepped on the bag and then threw to Cronenworth at second base. Cronenworth threw the ball to first baseman Donovan Solano to end the game.

San Diego starter Michael King (13-9) allowed just one unearned run on three hits in five innings, and Suarez finished with his 35th save as the Padres improved their record against the Dodgers to 8-3 this year.

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King struck out three and walked two.

Ohtani hit a double, a walk and a run for the Dodgers, whose magic number for an 11th division title in 12 seasons remained at four. Los Angeles secured a playoff spot on Friday.

Dodgers rookie right-hander Landon Knack (3-5) allowed four runs on five hits in four innings in his first career start against San Diego. He struck out four times and walked once.

Ohtani gave Los Angeles a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a double, scoring when Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts threw over first base on a ground ball by Mookie Betts.

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The Padres took a 2-1 lead half an inning later. Rookie Jackson Merrill hit a single with one out and Cronenworth hit a home run to right field with two outs, his 17th home run. It was the first time in 19 September games that Cronenworth had an RBI.

Bogaerts delivered an RBI single with two outs in the fourth inning and reached second base on a cracked balk. Cronenworth followed with an RBI double to the wall in left field for a 4-1 lead.

Padres create game-deciding triple play and secure place in the MLB playoffs

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Padres create game-deciding triple play and secure place in the MLB playoffs

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