San Diego, CA
Padres turn triple play to beat Dodgers, secure playoff berth
LOS ANGELES — There would be a review. The Padres had to wait.
But a triple play would stand, and they would get to celebrate.
The replay review ultimately confirmed that a grounder by Miguel Rojas, fielded by Manny Machado and thrown to Jake Cronenworth and then on to Donovan Solano ended a 4-2 victory.
A TRIPLE PLAY! TO SECURE A SPOT IN THE POSTSEASON! UNREAL! pic.twitter.com/NfbCRgt0Y6
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 25, 2024
The Padres gathered for a low-key celebration on the infield.
Lockers covered by plastic and several dozen bottles of champagne awaited them in the visitors clubhouse.
With Tuesday’s victory at Dodger Stadium, the site of so much frustration for the Padres in recent years, there was elation.
The Padres are headed to the postseason for the third time in five years and for the eighth time ever.
In beating the Dodgers for the eighth time in 11 meetings this season, the Padres moved within two games of the National League West leaders with two games remaining in this series and five games left in the regular season.
So, with a postseason berth in hand, the Padres are now pushing for a bye in the first round.
On a night that began with a buzz in the air before the visitors quieted the 50,000-plus spread around the massive ballpark, the Padres engineered their 38th comeback victory of the season.
They took a 2-1 lead on Jake Cronenworth’s two-run homer in the top of the second and added two runs in the fourth inning when Cronenworth doubled in a run and Xander Bogaerts drove in another with a single.
Michael King allowed just an unearned run in five innings before five relievers closed out the Padres’ 91st victory.
The Dodgers went up early when Shohei Ohtani hit King’s first pitch down the right field line, where it bounced on the grass and then into the seats beyond the short wall in the corner, and then scored when Bogaerts’ sailed a throw on a Mookie Betts grounder over diminutive first baseman Donovan Solano and into the camera well next to the Padres’ dugout. That gifted Ohtani, who had stayed at second, home and put Betts on second.
After Freddie Freeman lined out, Teoscar Hernández singled to move Betts to third before Max Muncy flied out to shallow left field.
The defense (and Betts) then helped out King.
On a 1-2 pitch to Will Smith, Hernández took off for second and stopped about 10 feet short of the bag when catcher Kyle Higashioka’s throw arrived in front of him. Betts took a couple steps toward home at that point before retreating — but not in time to beat the throw from Cronenworth and tag by Manny Machado.
Cronenworth’s two-out homer over the short wall in right followed Jackson Merrill’s one-out single.
Two innings later, Bogaerts helped atone for his gaffe, and Cronenworth made Dodgers pitcher Landon Knack pay for one.
Just when it seemed Jurickson Profar’s lead-off double might go for naught after Machado struck out and Merrill flied out, Bogaerts singled past diving Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas to make it 3-1.
Boagerts went to second base on a balk by Knack, when the rookie stepped off the rubber to throw to first base and had to hold up because Freeman was not covering the bag. Two pitches later, a double by Cronenworth drove in Bogaerts.
Padres pitching took over from there.
King was at 54 pitches through two innings before getting through the third inning on 10 pitches and the fourth on 15.
Adrián Morejón was warming up as King began the bottom of the fifth.
King got Rojas on a groundout and Ohtani on a fly ball to left field that Profar, playing back, ran up 74 feet and dove to catch. The inning ended when Merrill leaped to catch a drive by Betts near the top of the wall in center field.
Morejón got two quick outs to start the bottom of the sixth before a single and a walk. That brought Mike Shildt from the dugout to replace Morejón with Jeremiah Estrada, who got Tommy Edman to pop out on one pitch.
With the left-handed-hitting Ohtani due up third in the bottom of the seventh, lefty Tanner Scott was next up.
That prompted the Dodgers to go with pinch-hitter Kiké Hernández, who bats from the right side. He lined a single into left field before Miguel Rojas grounded into a double play and Scott struck out Ohtani on three pitches.
Jason Adam retired Betts, on another diving catch by Profar and Freddie Freeman before Teoscar Hernández doubled. Muncy ended the inning with a fly ball to left field.
The Dodgers got a run on three straight singles off Robert Suarez before the final play.
Originally Published:
RAMONA (CNS) – Four rare western spotted skunks were released back in the wild after weeks of rehabilitation and socialization at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, officials announced Wednesday.
The successful release marks a major milestone for a species rarely seen in wildlife rehabilitation. The group included one orphaned skunk that was flown more than 400 miles by Flying Tails Animal Rescue from Sierra Wildlife Rescue in Northern California to join an orphaned group in Ramona, according to the SDHS.
The four skunks were returned to a carefully selected, remote habitat in Valley Center after reaching the necessary weight and developmental milestones to thrive on their own.
Western spotted skunks are a rare sight for the Humane Society’s Project Wildlife team. While the wildlife center typically handles hundreds of striped skunks each year, admitting six spotted skunks from different litters in one season is unusual. Spotted skunks are generally found in remote forested areas and are not as common in urban neighborhoods, officials said.
“We have never seen this many western spotted skunks in a single season before,” said Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager at the Ramona Wildlife Center. “Because they are more reclusive than striped skunks, they require very specific care and even more secluded release sites to ensure they can stay wild.”
Socialization is critical for orphaned spotted skunks. During their stay at the Ramona Wildlife Center, the group became a bonded unit — exploring, digging and sleeping together, according to SDHS officials. Experts say these social cues prevent habituation to humans and teach the orphans natural skunk behaviors.
While four members of the group have returned to the wild, two spotted skunks remain in care at the facility. The smallest skunk was moved to an outside pre-release habitat and introduced to a slightly older skunk in late June.
Wildlife officials said by keeping the pair together, the wildlife team ensures the younger skunk will have a companion to learn from until they are both ready to be released, likely within the next month or two.
Anyone who finds an injured, sick or orphaned wild animal is encouraged to visit sdhumane.org/wildlifehelp or call 619-299-7012.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A 33-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to 325 years to life in prison for sexually abusing two 6-year-old girls, in addition to a slew of other felony sex abuse charges, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Christopher T. Gardner was convicted of 15 felony sex abuse charges, which included molesting the two girls, who were relatives of his, over a five-year period.
The abuse reportedly first came to light when one of the victims told a friend in confidence during a sleepover that she had been touched inappropriately. The friend then told her mother, who contacted law enforcement.
After Gardner was arrested, a third victim came forward, who was also a relative. Now a young adult, the victim said that when she was 7-8 years old, Gardner sexually assaulted her.
During the nine-day trial, the first two victims reportedly testified to multiple vulgar acts of sexual abuse by Gardner.
“Predators who rob children of their innocence and inflict lifelong trauma do not belong in our communities,” DA Summer Stephan said. “This sentence sends an unmistakable message to abusers: you will be held accountable. I am deeply grateful to our specialized sexual abuse prosecution team for their dedication in bringing a measure of justice to the survivors.”
Thursday, July 9
• La Jolla Town Council: 6 p.m., La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. lajollatowncouncil.org
Friday, July 10
• La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club: 6:45 a.m., UC San Diego Faculty Club, 270 Muir Lane. lajollagtrotary.org
• Kiwanis Club of La Jolla: noon, La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. kiwanisclublajolla.org
Sunday, July 12
• La Jolla Open Aire Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Girard Avenue at Genter Street. (858) 454-1699. lajollamarket.com
Monday, July 13
• La Jolla Library Book Club: 1:30 p.m., Community Room, La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The July book is “Fresh Water for Flowers” by Valérie Perrin. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=316631
• La Jolla Planned District Ordinance Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
• Laughmasters Toastmasters: 6:30 p.m., online. Email jrmmt@cox.net.
Tuesday, July 14
• San Diego Blood Bank blood drive: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Hensel Phelps Construction Co., 9404 Genesee Ave. Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in good health. Photo identification is required. (619) 400-8251. sandiegobloodbank.org
• Rotary Club of La Jolla: noon, La Valencia Hotel, 1132 Prospect St. rotarycluboflajolla.org
• Co-op Toastmasters Club: noon, online at bit.ly/46W13bx (meeting ID: 849 4320 0407, passcode: cccu2020). (669) 900-6833. toastmasters.org/find-a-club/00001125-coop-club
• La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., online. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
Wednesday, July 15
• Torrey Pines (La Jolla) Rotary Club: noon, online. torreypinesrotary.org
• La Jolla Shores Association: 6 p.m., Martin Johnson House, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 8840 Biological Grade. lajollashoresassociation.org
Thursday, July 16
• La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club: 6:58 a.m., La Jolla Shores Hotel, 8110 Camino del Oro. Call Cheryl Collins at (760) 936-3272 or Steve Cross at (619) 992-9449.
• San Diego Blood Bank blood drive: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sanford Burnham Prebys (patio outside Buildings 6 and 7), 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road. Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in good health. Photo identification is required. (619) 400-8251. sandiegobloodbank.org
• La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., online. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
Friday, July 17
• La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club: 6:45 a.m., UC San Diego Faculty Club, 270 Muir Lane. lajollagtrotary.org
Did we miss listing your community event? Email calendar information to Noah Lyons at noah.lyons@lajollalight.com by noon Thursday for publication in the following week’s edition. ♦
-
Lifestyle40 minutes agoWe unpack the 2026 Emmy nominations : Pop Culture Happy Hour
-
Technology48 minutes agoGet a $30 credit when you reserve Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy phones
-
World55 minutes agoCritics say Turkey’s verbal attacks on Israel have crossed into antisemitism
-
Politics57 minutes agoWATCH: Dana White drops 2028 hints while raving about his favorite Trump cabinet secretary
-
Health1 hour agoKatie Couric couldn’t remember the year or the president during frightening brain episode
-
Sports1 hour agoJustin Verlander announces he will retire after this season: ‘I’ve realized that time has come’
-
Technology1 hour agoApple AI security update proves hackers move fast
-
Business1 hour agoFire-damaged Pacific Palisades shopping center sets reopening date
