Padres 4-2 Dodgers (September 24, 2024) Match Report

LOS ANGELES – Manny Machado started a game-winning triple play and the San Diego Padres secured a postseason spot with a 4-2 victory over the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.

Jake Cronenworth hit an early two-run home run for the storming Padres to clinch at least a National League wild card with five games of the regular season remaining. They have now moved to within two games of Los Angeles with two games left in their decisive series at Dodger Stadium.

“It's really important to get the lead back to three,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

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

“You have to give Manny credit,” Roberts said. “He played an incredible game.”

The Dodgers had two double plays at the beginning of the game.

San Diego's celebrations were interrupted when the Dodgers challenged the out call at second base, but the decision stood after a replay.

“It's shocking,” Roberts said of the ending. “It's the most unlikely outcome.”

The second-place Padres have won four games in a row and nine of 10. San Diego holds the tiebreaker against Los Angeles with an 8-3 record in head-to-head matches.

“We're going to enjoy tonight, enjoy this game, enjoy the celebration,” Machado said, “but the work is not finished yet.”

The Dodgers’ magic number to win the division title remained four.

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 the big three-game series, chanting “MVP! MVP!” to Shohei Ohtani and booing Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. mercilessly.

“How much better would it be to make a triple play in a difficult situation with Ohtani in the waiting circle and end the game against one of the best teams in baseball?” Machado said.

Cronenworth didn't have a single RBI in September until he hit three against the Padres' biggest rivals, including his 12th home run against the Dodgers. He hadn't had 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 had three strikeouts and two walks.

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

The Dodgers got on the scoreboard in the first inning because Bogaerts made a throwing error at shortstop, which gave Ohtani a run, who entered the game 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 base when Bogaerts' throw to a routine grounder went into the Padres dugout, allowing Betts to move to second base.

“We had opportunities, but the only run we scored was given away by an error,” Roberts said. “We just couldn't score 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 times and walked once.

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

The Dodgers left the bases loaded in the second inning when Betts was eliminated with a swing strikeout.

TRAINING ROOM

Dodgers: RHP Gavin Stone (right shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day IL. … LHP Anthony Banda (broken left hand) threw a bullpen and is expected to return in the next few days. … LHP Clayton Kershaw (toe) will not face hitters this week.

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) limits opposing batters to a .233 average.

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