San Diego Padres sweep Milwaukee Brewers to claim NL wild-card spot

The San Diego Padres completed a three-game series sweep of the MLB-leading Milwaukee Brewers with a 4-3 walk-off victory at Petco Park. The win, secured in the 11th inning, moves the Padres into sole possession of the National League’s second wild-card spot, ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies.

In the decisive 11th inning, Jackson Merrill hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game, followed by a two-out single from Luis Campusano that drove in Sun-Mung Song for the winning run. The Padres' bullpen and relief pitching were critical in overcoming an early lead by the Brewers, which included a home run by former Padre Gary Sánchez.

The Padres' recent performance marks a significant offensive resurgence, having won 15 of their last 19 games. This momentum follows strategic trade deadline moves to bolster the pitching rotation. The team's improved batting average and consistency have positioned them as a serious contender for the postseason.