San Diego Padres clinch playoff berth in unique play in MLB history

The Padres’ journey to the 2024 postseason comes to a head in one of the most dramatic finishes in baseball history. On a crisp night at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers are mounting a ninth-inning rally with Shohei Ohtani looming on deck. The crowd is tense, holding its breath, sensing a comeback. But with one swing, the game flips on its head. Miguel Rojas hits a ground ball, and just like that, the Padres pull off a triple play to seal the 4-2 victory and clinch their playoff spot.

It’s a moment that feels too good to be real, yet here it is, unfolding before everyone’s eyes. The final out in a playoff-clinching game is already rare, but to end it with a triple play? That’s something baseball has never seen before. “The Padres are the first team in MLB history to turn a triple play to end a game on the day they clinched a postseason berth,” confirms MLB’s Sarah Langs. A Hollywood storyline, but grounded in San Diego grit.

The magic starts with Manny Machado at third base. His quick reflexes set the triple play in motion, and as soon as the dust settles, the Padres erupt. They’re in. It’s not just the win over their biggest rival that matters - it’s how it happened. The drama, the tension, and then that burst of joy, all rolled into one unforgettable moment. It’s the kind of ending that could only happen in baseball, where anything truly is possible.

With the win, the Padres (91-66) are just two games behind the Dodgers in the National League West. Jake Cronenworth’s three-RBI performance lays the foundation, but the pitching is what holds everything together. Michael King throws five scoreless innings, and the bullpen is lights-out until Robert Suarez gives up a run in the ninth. The Dodgers are pressing, but they don’t break through.

This Padres team is something special. After years of being on the edge of contention, they finally look like a club that can go deep into October. They have a mix of talent and chemistry that’s hard to ignore. It’s no wonder fans and analysts alike are starting to believe this might be the year. “Will this finally be the year for the Faithful?” Padres announcer Don Orsillo asks, the question hanging in the air like the last out of the game, waiting to drop.

As the Padres prepare for the next game in this series against the Dodgers, there’s a growing sense that this could be the start of something big. They haven’t won the NL West since 2006, a fact that seemed impossible to change not too long ago. But here they are, surging at the perfect moment, turning triple plays and making history.

Wednesday night’s game is just around the corner, but no matter what happens, the Padres have already proven one thing: they’re ready for October. And if their wild, improbable clincher is any sign, they might be just getting started.