Padres’ Dramatic Extra-Inning Triumph Seals Playoff Berth in Nail-Biting Showdown Against Brewers

What a night for the Padres and their fans packed into Petco Park—my word, you could feel the electricity crackling through the stands as San Diego clinched a postseason berth in the most exhilarating way imaginable. Freddy Fermin, the catcher who’s been quietly working his magic, delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th, pushing Bryce Johnson home and sealing a nail-biting 5-4 triumph. This isn’t just any victory; it’s the mark of a team that’s battling hard to clinch at least a wild-card spot in the National League playoffs. With the Padres sitting comfortably at 86-71, just a couple of games behind the Dodgers in the NL West, the stage is set for five more home games that could very well rewrite the script of their season. The drama, the tension, the near misses—like that double play from Jackson Chourio when the bases were loaded—this game had it all. I gotta say, seeing Jose Iglesias pump his fist after an RBI single that tied the game felt like a snapshot of sheer determination. San Diego’s playoff triumph, now their second consecutive and the fourth in six years, is a testament to resilience and ambition that’s hard not to admire. For all the gritty details and to dive deeper into this unforgettable night, LEARN MORE.

The San Diego Padres punched their playoff ticket in dramatic fashion Monday night, to the delight of a jubilant Petco Park.

Catcher Freddy Fermin hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning that scored Bryce Johnson and gave the Padres a 5-4 victory to clinch at least a wild-card spot in the NL playoffs.

The Padres are currently in position to secure the No. 5 seed in the postseason. San Diego (86-71) is 2.5 games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West with five games remaining, all at home for the Padres.

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Jose Iglesias #7 of the San Diego Padres reacts at first base after hitting an RBI single during the seventh inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park on September 22, 2025 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) — Jose Iglesias is pumped after tying the game in the seventh inning on an RBI single. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

(Sean M. Haffey via Getty Images)

Trailing 4-3 in the 10th inning, the Padres tied it up when Gavin Sheets brought Luis Arraez home on a fielder’s choice.

The Brewers, who already clinched the NL Central and are in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed, missed a chance to break the game open in the 11th inning. With the bases loaded, Jackson Chourio grounded out into an inning-ending double play.

The Padres took it from there in the 11th inning. Jose Iglesias hit a sacrifice that advanced Johnson to third, setting up Fermin for the winning hit.

San Diego is in the playoffs for the second straight season and fourth time in six years.