Even the most optimistic San Diego Padres fan couldn't have possibly imagined the turnaround would happen this quickly.

Entering play on July 4, the Padres were nine games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West. But their 23-12 record in the days since has coincided with a 12-21 slump from the Dodgers, suddenly handing a one-game lead to the Friars.

This is an unfamiliar position for the Padres, who haven't won a division title since 2006. The Dodgers have run the West, finishing first in 11 of the last 12 years with two World Series titles in that stretch.

So as the two teams get set to face each other this weekend, even the Padres aren't sure how we got here.

Third baseman Manny Machado looked back on the nine-game deficit, in the middle of a cold

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