Padres make decisive triple play to clinch playoff spot

LOS ANGELES — The San Diego Padres secured a playoff spot Tuesday night by executing a triple play to secure their 4-2 victory over the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

After missing the postseason last year, Manny Machado and the Padres earned the eighth playoff berth in franchise history and are guaranteed at least a National League wild card with five games remaining in the regular season.

San Diego trails Los Angeles by two games with two games remaining in their series at Dodger Stadium.

It was the third triple play to end a game in the last 30 years, and the first by the Padres since June 10, 2010, against the New York Mets. San Diego became the first team in MLB history to secure a playoff spot with a game-ending triple play

ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.