Padres edge Brewers in a thriller to seal playoff spot for second straight season

Freddy Fermin’s clutch single in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted the San Diego Padres to a thrilling 5-4 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night, clinching a spot in the National League playoffs for the second consecutive year. The Padres had previously made back-to-back playoff appearances only once, during the 2005–06 seasons. Bryce Johnson started the inning at second base and was bunted to third by Jose Iglesias, setting the stage for Fermin, who lined the first pitch from Grant Anderson into center field, sparking a celebration on the field.


San Diego rookie Bradgley Rodriguez came up big in the top of the 11th, inducing a double-play ball from Jackson Chourio to escape a bases-loaded jam and keep the Padres alive. The win also moved San Diego (86-71) within 2-1/2 games of the idle Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and tied them 2-1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the top wild-card spot. In their first 50 years, the Padres made the playoffs just five times. In contrast, they have reached the postseason four times over the past six years.



Meanwhile, Milwaukee (95-62), which clinched the NL Central title on Sunday, still leads Philadelphia (92-64) by 2-1/2 games for the best record in the National League. The game featured back-and-forth scoring, with both teams hitting in the 10th inning. The Brewers briefly took the lead when Sal Frelick’s fielder’s-choice bouncer plated Brice Turang, but the Padres quickly answered with Gavin Sheets’ fielder’s-choice grounder scoring Luis Arraez.


Earlier, San Diego had tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on Arraez’s two-out RBI single that scored Iglesias, who reached second on a walk to pinch-hitter Ramon Laureano.

On the mound, Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta allowed two runs over five innings, while Padres starter Nick Pivetta gave up three runs over 5-2/3 innings. San Diego initially scored in the first on a balk by Peralta, plating Manny Machado, before Milwaukee’s second-inning surge produced three runs on hits by Caleb Durbin and Christian Yelich. Iglesias also homered in the fifth, his second of the season, to tie the game and keep the Padres’ playoff hopes alive.