The Padres’ primary shortstop took a significant step toward a return on Wednesday afternoon. The primary backup appears to have dodged a bullet. Jose Iglesias said X-rays on his left hand hit by a pitch on Tuesday were negative and that he is available off the bench for Wednesday’s 5:40 p.

But the Cincinnati Reds pulled a must-win series out of the fire with a comeback 2-1 victory over the Padres in San Diego that boosted them to just two games behind the New York Mets for the National League’s final playoff spot with 16 to play.

The Padres look Wild Card Series-bound. And unless they get red-hot during the season’s final 2 1/2 weeks, they’re probably going on the road for it. So … Game 1, Sept. 30, a potentially hostile environment -- who gets the ball?

Fernando Tatis Jr.’s sacrifice fly drives in the winning run; Wandy Peralta gets win after stranding automatic runner in top of 10th

The Padres offense, however, has struggled recently due to the unavailability of shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who fractured his left foot in late August in a game against the Seattle Mariners. The 32-year-old veteran has not quite lived up to the expectations of the 11-year, $280 million deal he signed in December 2022.

Jackson Merrill’s towering fly ball into Petco Park’s right-center-field gap hung in the air for only about five seconds. Felt like forever. Collectively, Petco Park held its breath. With two outs, both runners sped around the bases.

One of two teams officially eliminated, the Rockies were swept in a three-game set at Dodger Stadium and have lost five in a row dating back to the final two games over the weekend against the Padres at Coors Field. The Padres won seven of nine so far to clinch the season series, outscoring the Rockies 71-30.

The Padres stayed 2 1/2 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and four games ahead of the Mets in the race for the second of three NL wild cards. L.A. and New York both lost Friday, the Dodgers on a 10th-inning grand slam.