Filed under: Dodgers, Giants, Padres, NL West
The San Diego Padres have won 90 games this year, which is a lot of huffing and puffing for the little train that has the majors' second-lowest payroll.The Padres nonetheless need another victory or two to reach the playoffs, but there is this: By defeating the San Francisco Giants on Friday and Saturday, they've already recalled one of most dramatic episodes in franchise history -- the season-ending sweep of the Dodgers at Los Angeles in 1996.
"That's exactly what this reminds me of," said Padres scout Chris Gwynn on Saturday, shortly after second-place San Diego beat the frontrunning Giants, 4-2, to pull within one game of first in the National League West.
The Giants (91-70) and Padres (90-71) will meet Sunday in the season's 162nd game.
Fourteen years ago in the 162nd game, Gwynn's two-run double off Dodgers reliever Chan Ho Park set up Trevor Hoffman's 11th-inning save that beat the Dodgers a third consecutive time and brought San Diego its first NL West title since 1984.
Because many San Diegans thrill to any victory over the rival Dodgers, let alone a playoff-clinching sweep, the closing flourish also added steam to Padres ownership's bid for a new ballpark, which would open in downtown San Diego eight years later.
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