WATCH: San Diego Padres jaw-dropping triple play to clinch secure spot in the postseason

In a nail-biting showdown at Dodger Stadium, the San Diego Padres secured a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, thanks to a jaw-dropping defensive play that officially clinched them a spot in the 2024 MLB postseason.

With the Dodgers threatening in the bottom of the ninth—runners on first and second, and nobody out—Padres closer Robert Suarez found himself in a tight spot against Miguel Rojas. Rojas delivered a hard ground ball to Manny Machado, who was playing in on the third base line.

Machado stepped on third for the first out before firing a laser to second base for the second out. Jake Cronenworth threw to first and completed the rare triple play, sending the Padres’ dugout into a frenzy.

San Diego Padres Clinch Postseason Spot with Triple Play

A TRIPLE PLAY! TO SECURE A SPOT IN THE POSTSEASON! UNREAL! pic.twitter.com/NfbCRgt0Y6

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 25, 2024

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San Diego Padres: 2nd in NL West, 2 games behind LAD in division

With the win the Padres secured a spot in the postseason and now, they will focus on toppling the Dodgers in the NL West.

• Win tiebreaker vs: Braves, Dodgers, Brewers
• Lose tiebreaker vs: Mets, Phillies
• Tiebreaker TBD vs: D-backs (5-5, 3 games remaining)

The Padres hold critical tiebreaker advantages over the Braves, Dodgers, and Brewers, giving them a potential edge in postseason seeding. However, they lose out to the Mets and Phillies. San Diego is still in the hunt for the NL West title, trailing the Dodgers by just two games.

Clinch scenario: The Padres’ fate in the division could come down to their final series against the D-backs.

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