MLB

Padres’ Performance in the Clutch Was a Disaster

Mac PhamOctober 8, 20261 Mins read1

Oct 7, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) reacts after hitting a fly ball that was caught at the wall during the eighth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers in game four of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

The Padres gave it all away again in the clutch.

Prior to their latest postseason, the Padres averaged 1.6 runs in their last three playoff games in which they were eliminated. Last night, Fernando Tatis Jr’s solo home run in the third inning avoided a shut out.

Since 2020, San Diego has 16 playoff wins, the most in that span without a World Series appearance.

In each game of the NLDS, the Padres were one play away from either a win or gaining serious momentum.

In Game One, down 2-3 in the ninth inning, Ty France’s fly ball hit the roof and into Jackson Chourio’s glove for an out.

Oh. My. Goodness.

This ball hit by France looked to potentially be a go-ahead home run, but it hit the roof and was caught, and was ruled an out. pic.twitter.com/E6pnoausP7

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 4, 2026

Without a roof, the Padres would have taken the lead with a runner on base. Their offense doesn’t get them remotely close to getting home runs or runners on base until the later innings.

Jumping to Game Two, this time the Padres had 3-2 lead in the ninth inning with Mason Miller, the best closer in baseball, up on the mound.

Being one strike away from tying the series, Miller threw a four-seam fastball only to give up a hit and eventually the game-winning run.

JACKSON CHOURIO WALKS IT OFF VS MASON MILLER IN THE NINTH

THE BREWERS NEVER LOSE pic.twitter.com/XkYjx8Hc1O

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 4, 2026

The play at the plate was not even close and the Padres failed to take a game on the road.

It was a 2-2 count with the bases loaded. Only the Padres have themselves to blame for putting themselves in that jam.

What was their strength became their worst nightmare when it mattered most.

Flashbacks to last year’s elimination game. The Padres are down 3-1 in the ninth inning to the Cubs. Xander Bogaerts gets called out for a controversial third strike.

Down 3-1 again in an elimination game, the Padres had Tatis Jr, Jackson Merrill, and Manny Machado up to bat in the bottom of the eighth.

After Tatis Jr gets walked, Machado gets thrown a sinker — only to be inches away from tying the game.

GARRETT MITCHELL TAKES AWAY A GAME-TYING HOME RUN 🤯 pic.twitter.com/UVjEXP3VA7

— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2026

He went 406-foot deep but it needed to be 407 to go over the wall.

No roof to blame this time.

The Padres went 21 straight at-bats without a hit to end their season.

Same story for the Padres: finish in second to the Dodgers and falter somewhere in the playoffs by having sleepy bats in an elimination game.

Written by

Mac Pham

Mac Pham, is a San Diego State alum. He formally served as the vice president for SDSU's Asian American Journalist Association chapter. He currently has a sports marketing internship. Mac is The Lead's analyst for film breakdowns. He wants to add value and help build The Lead into a professional sports digital media outlet. The Lead getting that professional stamp of validation would be the championship. That's the dream. "If you have a dream, know that it is possible. If you believe that you can get it and you put in the work, you can achieve that dream" Loyalty is everything.