SAN FRANCISCO — With 42 games to go, the National League West is entirely up for grabs.
In the moments after the Padres’ 5-1 victory over the Giants at Oracle Park, the Angels walked off the Dodgers in Anaheim, leaving San Diego and L.A. with identical 68-52 records. It marks the latest point in a season the Padres have held at least a share of first place since Sept. 25, 2010.
“A lot of games to go,” said center fielder Jackson Merrill, who iced the game with his opposite-field homer in the eighth. “There’s nothing we can control over there. We’re all in the moment here.”
Maybe so. But the TVs in the visiting clubhouse at Oracle Park were tuned to the conclusion of Dodgers-Angels, nonetheless. A smattering of cheers went up when Jo Adell chopped a walk-off single over third base.
“Always fun watching baseball games,” Merrill added, wryly.
The Padres and Dodgers will meet six times in the next 12 days — including a three-game series that begins Friday night in Los Angeles. But first the Padres have business to take care of in San Francisco.
Their win on Tuesday was their 13th in the last 16 games, and at this point, their reality is: Any win is ground gained … somewhere. The Padres also moved into a tie with the Cubs for the top Wild Card spot and home-field advantage in their first playoff series. They moved within a game and a half of the Phillies, who currently occupy the second first-round bye in the National League.
“Just enjoy it,” said shortstop Xander Bogaerts. “We all know what we’re doing is pretty special. You can’t take anything for granted. Keep showing up, doing the same thing we’re doing. It’s pretty nice and fun to come to the park every day.”
