Front Row Seat: Machado's grand slam inches the Padres closer to the playoffs

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Machado meets the moment with clutch slam as Padres eye postseason - MLB.com
As the ball carried toward the left-center-field seats at Citi Field, Machado leaned back – then held his signature pose for an extra moment or two. The visiting dugout erupted. The Padres were en route to a crucial 7-4 victory over the Mets. They are now almost certainly on their way to the postseason as well.

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Even the manager who navigates almost every one of a season’s 162 games with the belief it must be won — and certainly did last night — acknowledged what was in the air at Citi Field last night.

“Felt like a playoff game,” said Mike Shildt, who pulled Pivetta in the fifth inning and gave a three-run lead to his rested bullpen.

The Padres will be playing in the actual playoffs.

Last night’s 7-4 victory over the Mets served to further close the gap between inevitable and certain.

No comeback this time, Dodgers blank Phillies in series finale - NBC Sports Philadelphia
“That’s the best I’ve seen Snell. He was really good,” said Thomson. “He threw strikes and pounded the zone and the curveball was really good to lefthanders and the changeup was really good to our righthanders. Couldn’t muster too much.”

Nick Castellanos and Max Kepler worked two-out walks in the seventh inning and it appeared Snell’s night was over, as manager Dave Roberts made his way to the mound and reliever Alex Vesia darted into left field from the bullpen. But those who gathered on the mound waved off Vesia and Snell proceeded to strike out Otto Kemp to end the threat.

Snell allowed just two hits and two walks, and he struck out a season-high 12 of the 25 batters he faced.