If the San Diego Padres can bottle Wednesday’s performance, they could beat any team in the MLB postseason.
Manny Machado reminded Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell he’s still dangerous in the matchup game, four Padres pitchers led by Dylan Cease threw an ultra-high-speed shutout and the defense got gems from right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and shortstop Xander Bogaerts.
So put away the golf clubs. The Padres get to play another ballgame.
Wednesday’s 3-0 victory means Thursday’s winner-take-all Game 3 will determine who plays the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series.
There’s no doubting the biggest play Wednesday. Machado, pouncing on a fat first pitch in the fifth inning, hit a two-run, two-out home run to inflate the lead to 3-0.
Machado’s follow-through spun