San Diego’s rising star shattered Tyler Glasnow’s no-hitter, sparking a late-inning offensive surge to defeat Los Angeles and secure a high-stakes postseason berth in the final weekend.
The San Diego Padres have clinched a Wild Card spot after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night in the series finale.
The Chicago Cubs clinched their own spot earlier in the day, the Arizona Diamondbacks won to inch closer, and the Philadelphia Phillies lost as the race is incredibly tight with one weekend remaining.
However, the Padres continue to control their own destiny after a 4-2 win.
Nick Pivetta started for San Diego, and he pitched well once again, going 4.2 innings and allowing four hit with zero runs while striking out seven batters.
Yuki Matsui and Jason Adam both threw scoreless innings, and it marked Adam's first appearance since June 29.
Dodgers pitcher Tyler Glasnow had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning, but young catcher Ethan Salas broke it up with a nice single to left field.
Fernando Tatis Jr. then singled and Salas went to third, and Dustin Harris' sacrifice fly gave San Diego a 1-0 lead.
Then, the floodgates opened a bit at the top of the seventh. Ty France popped out, but Jackson Merrill doubled and Xander Bogaerts walked to give some life to the San Diego dugout.
Austin Hays then pinch-hit for Jake Cronenworth, and he hit an RBI single to left field.
Samad Taylor struck out looking, but Ethan Salas continued his hot streak with an RBU single to make it 3-0.
Tatis then drove in a run with an RBI single, and Harris grounded out to end the inning, although it gave the Padres a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.
Adrian Morejon then came into the game, and he struck out Shohei Ohtani in an emotional moment as the Padres inched closer to a playoff spot.
However, Morejon got into a bit of a jam in the bottom of the eighth. Mookie Betts walked, and Freddie Freeman singled to center to give LA some hope.
Teoscar Hernandez struck out an and Kyle Tucker flied out, but Betts scored the first LA run of the game after a Morejon balk.
Thankfully for San Diego, Miguel Rojas flied out to end the jam.
Mason Miller then entered in the bottom of the ninth. He struck out Andy Pages looking, got Hunter Feduccia to fly out.
Miller then struck out Tommy Edman, however, he made it to first base on the wild pitch to keep the game alive. Shohei Ohtani then hit an RBI double to make it 4-2 Padres,
However, Miller got Betts to ground out, and the Padres clinched their third straight postseason trip.
The Padres now control their own destiny, and they sit in prime position to host a Wild Card round if they can win against the Diamondbacks this weekend.
