Padres Clinch Playoff Spot with 5-4 Walk-Off Win Over Brewers

The San Diego Padres clinched a playoff spot with a thrilling 5-4 walk-off victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in 11 innings, marking their fourth postseason appearance in six years and their first back-to-back playoff appearances since 2005-06. Freddy Fermin, a trade deadline acquisition, delivered the game-winning single in the 11th inning, driving home Bryce Johnson and sparking a celebration at Petco Park. This victory puts the Padres within 2½ games of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West race and maintains their position in the wild-card standings, with a likely best-of-three Wild Card series against the Chicago Cubs. The Padres' success reflects an aggressive trade deadline strategy by GM A.J. Preller, who bolstered the roster with key additions including Fermin, Mason Miller, Ramón Laureano, and Ryan O’Hearn. The team's elite bullpen and strong starting pitching, notably Nick Pivetta, are critical to their championship aspirations. The Padres aim to improve on last year's playoff performance, where they lost to the Dodgers after leading the series 2-1.