SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres' latest stop on their redemption journey led them to a celebration soaked in champagne and beer on Wednesday night after they secured a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves, completing a two-game sweep in the NL Wild Card Series.
A year ago, the Padres were considered baseball's biggest disappointment, seen as a team plagued by clubhouse dysfunction. Now, after a transformation in both culture and personnel, they are set to face the Dodgers, the No. 1 seed in this postseason. The best-of-five series will begin in Los Angeles, and between the huge crowds at Dodger Stadium and the parties the Padres ignite at Petco Park, the series could draw a quarter-million fans in attendance and millions more watching on broadcasts.
"We fought hard all season for the division. But now we're in the part of the season where the winner moves on, and we wouldn't have it any other way," Padres manager Mike Shildt said. "It's going to be an incredible series. We're really excited. Can't wait."
After the Padres sprawled on the mound for a team photo, third baseman Manny Machado said, "This is what everyone wanted." Perhaps not everyone. It's tough to imagine any team willingly wanting a series against the Padres, who have been one of the best teams since the All-Star break, with 45 wins and 19 losses, including the two against the Braves — a 113-win pace since mid-July. Their lineup is deep, their rotation is strong — though there are concerns about Joe Musgrove, who left Wednesday's game with elbow trouble — and their bullpen has been one of the best after the midseason additions of Tanner Scott, Jason Adam, and others.
The Padres pounced on the Braves’ Max Fried, who might have made his final appearance in an Atlanta uniform. Tatis Jr. hit a scorching 99.8 mph line drive back at the mound, striking Fried on the backside and causing the ball to ricochet. Fried grimaced, and after a visit from manager Brian Snitker and a trainer, he decided to keep pitching. He managed to strike out Machado to escape a bases-loaded jam.
But later, Fried told reporters that the bruise on his buttocks had tightened up, and by the second inning, his command faltered. With two outs, Kyle Higashioka blasted a solo homer, his second in as many games, and after three consecutive singles, Machado came up again with the bases loaded.
As Machado watched the rally develop, he urged his teammates to give him another chance — and when Fried left a slider over the plate, Machado ripped it into the left-field corner for two runs. Merrill followed with a two-run triple, making it 5-1 Padres.
"That's a band of brothers out there," Merrill said. "First inning, we load the bases with no outs, and we don’t score. But we don’t dwell on it; we move forward. Six straight two-out hits! That doesn’t happen very often. That’s what a band of brothers does, working together to pile on the runs."
Higashioka added, "This team has always shown resilience and a never-quit attitude. That’s a testament to everyone, just putting together good at-bats, no matter the situation."
For the Braves, who have been hit hard by injuries all year, losing Ronald Acuña Jr. for most of the season and Austin Riley in recent weeks, the deficit was too great to overcome. Fried was done, and the game reflected the Braves' injury-riddled season.
The Braves scored a few more runs, but without their usual firepower — after leading the league in runs last year, they finished 15th this season — they couldn’t close the gap. Travis d'Arnaud popped out to end the game, and the Padres celebrated on the field.
Later, before the Padres returned to their clubhouse for a champagne shower, Shildt and others emphasized that this was only the first step and that they needed 11 more wins to complete their postseason run.
Earlier, Machado spoke about how this team fights and pushes forward, something not said about the 2023 Padres, a star-studded team that underachieved. Manager Bob Melvin left the Padres after the regular season, joining the Giants. Juan Soto was traded to the Yankees in exchange for a group of pitchers and Higashioka. Shildt, who had been fired by the Cardinals after the 2021 season and was unsure if he'd get another shot, was hired. Soon after, a conversation started between him, the coaching staff, and the players about how to create a better environment.
As infielder Jake Cronenworth explained, the players wanted to get back to caring about every game, every moment, and most importantly, to having fun. Shildt wanted them to enjoy coming to work each day, and adjustments were made to their routine.
"I’m happy with how our guys are approaching this postseason," Shildt said after Wednesday's game. "It's just baseball. They’re not making it bigger than it is. They’re going out, playing, and balling out."
Merrill, at age 20, has emerged as the center fielder along the way. "He’s a superstar," Cronenworth said. "A freak."
General manager A.J. Preller, known for his bold moves, acquired Dylan Cease from the White Sox in a spring trade and made the first major move of the regular season, trading for batting champion Arraez, who helped the team’s shift toward making more contact and striking out less in spacious Petco Park. Coach Victor Rodriguez called it "Petco Park hitting."
At the trade deadline, Preller strengthened the Padres’ bullpen. On Wednesday morning, a rival executive mentioned considering Preller for Executive of the Year.
By the time Preller entered the clubhouse, the champagne and beer had already started flowing. Shildt spotted him, gave him a bear hug with one arm, and emptied a bottle over Preller’s head with the other, laughing.
0 Comments