Machado's homer moves Padres closer to postseason berth in 5-1 win over Dodgers

Manny Machado hit a two-run homer and drove in three runs as the Padres beat the Dodgers 5-1 at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday. The result left San Diego one win, or one Arizona loss, from clinching a playoff place. It also put the Padres alone atop the National League wild-card standings after the Cubs and Phillies both lost.

The game turned in the fourth. Dustin Harris was hit by a Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitch, and Machado sent a drive to center for his 29th homer and a 2-0 lead. MLB's video captures the swing. San Diego had been shut out in the series opener, so those two runs ended a scoring drought and gave its bullpen something to protect.

That protection was tested immediately. Teoscar Hernández scored on Tommy Edman's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning. Padres manager Craig Stammen had removed starter Robbie Ray with one out and the bases loaded. David Morgan then walked Mookie Betts and faced Shohei Ohtani with the tying run at third. An automatic ball-strike challenge overturned a called ball on a 3-1 pitch to Ohtani; Morgan subsequently struck him out, preserving the 2-1 lead. MLB posted video of the strikeout and the challenge sequence.

San Diego widened the margin in the fifth. Ethan Salas scored when Yamamoto made a throwing error on Harris's fielder's choice, and Machado lifted a sacrifice fly to score Fernando Tatis Jr. The Padres added their final run in the ninth when Freddy Fermin singled home Samad Taylor. Taylor had walked and stolen second and third against Blake Treinen.

Ray allowed seven hits and one run in 3 1/3 innings. Five Padres relievers worked the remaining 5 2/3 innings without allowing another run. Bradgley Rodriguez earned the win with two scoreless innings; Mason Miller finished the game. The Dodgers collected 10 hits but left 12 runners aboard. Yamamoto allowed four runs, two earned, across six innings.

Ohtani, back from the injured list, singled in his first plate appearance and finished 1 for 4 with a walk. Los Angeles had already won the NL West, but the defeat ended an 11-game home winning streak and delayed a chance to secure a first-round bye. The Associated Press reported that the Dodgers need one more win or an Atlanta loss for at least the No. 2 seed.

San Diego improved to 88-70, one game ahead of Chicago and Philadelphia for the first wild-card spot. That position would give the Padres home field in the opening series. Arizona's win over Colorado kept San Diego from clinching Wednesday, leaving Thursday's results to settle the immediate postseason question.