Padres clinch playoff berth with game-ending triple play

LOS ANGELES — 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 RBI...