Padres Turn Triple Play to Clinch Playoff Berth

The San Diego Padres were 50-49 at the All Star Break, and were looking at once again being the Team of Unmet Expectations. But they have exploded over the course of the second half of the season, with a record of 41-17 since then. On September 24th, the Padres clinched a playoff berth with a 4-2 victory over the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Not only did they punch their ticket to the playoffs, but they did it in record setting fashion, turning a 5-4-3 triple play in the bottom of the ninth to close out the game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this is the first time in the history of the majors that a team qualified for the post season on a game ending triple play.

The Padres (91-66) moved to within two games of the 1st place Dodgers (93-64). San Diego is at Los Angeles for two more games, and then will close out the regular season with three games at Arizona September 27th-29th. The Padres can still overtake the Dodgers and win the NL West, although it’s a tall order. The Diamondbacks (87-71) are still battling for a Wild Card berth, while the Dodgers will end the regular season at Colorado (60-97). The Rockies are in last place by far in the NL West.

Elsewhere, the Houston Astros beat the Seattle Mariners 4-3 to clinch their 4th straight AL West title; the Baltimore Orioles, who have not had a great September, qualified for the post season with a 5-3 win over the Yankees; and the Cleveland Guardians secured a first round bye in the AL post season with a 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds.