Manny Machado is confident the San Diego Padres can overcome a 2-0 deficit in the NLDS, pointing to his team's resilience despite being counted out throughout the season.
The Padres face elimination after star closer Mason Miller blew a ninth-inning lead against the Milwaukee Brewers in Sunday's Game 2, which prompted Hall of Famer and FOX analyst David Ortiz to declare San Diego finished.
"We're ready for a fight to get to where we want to get to, to win the biggest trophy in our game," Machado said Monday when asked about Ortiz's remarks, according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN. "It's not an easy job. It's a tough road. You gotta deal with a lot of adversity.
"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."
Ortiz's early eulogy reflects the Padres' bleak odds of winning the series. Only 10 teams in MLB history have won a best-of-five showdown after dropping the first two games. The New York Yankees were the last club to accomplish the feat during the 2017 ALDS.
"You were supposed to win this game. Now you're out. It's over," Ortiz said on FOX's postgame show. "I'm sorry, Tatis and Machado. So much love for you guys. I want to stay in L.A., but that game tonight says so many things.
"You were supposed to be flying to San Diego and dancing on the airplane tonight, and you let that one get away from you. Now they're going to have to face Jacob (Misiorowski) again. That's the biggest problem. If they even get there. Well, Cancun. Someone is coming soon."
The series shifts to San Diego for Tuesday's Game 3.
