LOS ANGELES — The San Diego Padres are headed to the playoffs Wednesday, stunning the Dodgers by turning a triple play in the bottom of ninth inning, winning the game 4-2 at Dodger Stadium Tuesday night, and clinching a wild card spot.
The Dodgers rallied in the ninth inning, scoring a run and putting runners on first and second with no outs. Miguel Rojas hit a sharp grounder to Manny Machado at third base who started an around-the-horn triple play to end the game with Shohei Ohtani, the first player in Major League Baseball history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in the same season, on deck. He has 53 home runs and 55 stolen bases.
The Padres became the first team in Major League Baseball to clinch a playoff spot with a game-ending triple play.
"Couldn't script that any better," Padres manager Mike Shildt said after the game Tuesday.
WATCH: Padres celebrate in the clubhouse after clinching spot in 2024 postseason
The Dodgers lead the National League West standings by two games with five games left to play. The Dodgers magic number to clinch the NL West title is four. The second-place Padres are still in contention to win the NL West title and play the Dodgers two more times in the regular season.
"There's more to be had than just a wild card spot," said rookie Jackson Merrill. "We've still got a chance at this (division title), and we're going to give it everything we've got."
It's the ninth time the Padres turned a triple play in franchise history. Jake Cronenworth hit a two-run home run for the Padres earlier in the game. The Padres have won four games in a row and nine of their past 10 games. The Padres secured their spot in the postseason after missing out in 2023.
Machado said, "We turn a triple play to end the game, against one of the best teams in baseball?"
The Dodgers and Padres play the second game of the three-game series Wednesday evening at Dodger Stadium. Dylan Cease (14-11) starts for the Padres against Jack Flaherty (13-7) for the Dodgers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.