Manny Machado Confident About Padres Coming Back From 0-2 Down After David Ortiz’s Bold Claim

Following the loss of the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday, David Ortiz claimed that their season was over.

Manny Machado Confident About Padres Coming Back From 0-2 Down After David Ortiz’s Bold Claim

Manny Machado and David Ortiz (Image via X/@StoolBaseball/X/@BleacherReport)

The San Diego Padres find themselves in a tough situation following their Game 2 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Division Series (NLDS). Many, including MLB Hall of Famer David Ortiz, have written them off. Manny Machado, however, is confident that his team can still come back and win.

Some would say that the Padres were unfortunate in Game 1. With the team 3-2 down in the 9th inning, it appeared Ty France had turned the script with a go-ahead home run.

However, the ball struck the closed roof of American Family Field and fell into the gloves of Jackson Chourio for an out. Despite complaints, nothing could be done there.

The second game of the series saw them suffer another late heartbreak. This time, they were leading 3-2 in the 9th inning. Closer Mason Miller had seen through the 8th inning and was hoping to finish off the Brewers and level the series at 1-1.

Miller, though, blew the save. He gave up 3 walks in the bottom of the 9th inning and loaded up the bases for Chourio. Following an epic at-bat, the left infielder hit a single down the center field on the 6th pitch, allowing Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick to score.

This saw the Brewers walk off the Padres and take a 2-0 lead. This was just the 2nd walk-off hit of Chourio’s career.

Following the game, David Ortiz had some tough words for the Padres. The 3-time World Series winner claimed that the season was over for the NL West side with this loss.

I’m sorry, guys. I have to break it to you. I have so much love for San Diego and everything. But golly, you were supposed to win this game. Now, you are against the rope. It’s over. I’m sorry.

David Ortiz said on MLB ON FOX

History certainly is not on the side of the Padres. So far, only 10 times out of 93 has a team won a best-of-five postseason series in MLB after going 0-2 down.

Machado, however, is confident about his team. In the press conference ahead of Game 3, the third baseman responded to these comments from “Big Papi” and said they have heard such comments before as well this season.

We’re ready for a fight. … Those aren’t the first comments that we’ve heard about us this year. It’s been all year from everyone. But here we are once again with our backs against the wall. We’ve overcome it once, and we can do it again, and we’re going to do it again.

Manny Machado told the reporters

For Game 3, the Padres have named Nick Pavetta as the starter. The right-handed pitcher, who returned from the injured list in September, has a 1.64 ERA in 5 starts.

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The Padres did have a good home record in the regular season

After two thrilling games in Milwaukee, the NLDS action between the Milwaukee Brewers and the San Diego Padres will shift to Petco Park. Though the Padres face a huge task of turning things around, they do have a good home record this season.

Padres' Manny Machado
Manny Machado (Image via Imago)

In late July, the Padres were 3 games below .500 and sat 11th in the National League. Since then, they have undergone a massive change and entered the playoffs as one of the hottest teams while going 41-18.

They finished the year with a 91-71 record. At home, they went 51-30 in 81 games.

The NL West side continued their hot form at home in the Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs. A solid performance from Michael King on the mound and home runs from Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. helped them win Game 1, 8-0.

In Game 2, they once again dominated the offense of the Cubs and allowed just 1 run. A 4-1 win in Game 2 saw them sweep the Chicago-based side 2-0.

Winning 3 straight games against the Brewers, though, will not be that easy. Their opponents finished the year with the best record in the league at 103-59 and are one win away from back-to-back NLCS appearances.

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