Fermin's Walk-Off Single in 11th Inning Sends Padres to Postseason with Thrilling 5-4 Win Over Brewers

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In a dramatic finish under the lights at Petco Park, newly acquired catcher Freddy Fermin etched his name into San Diego Padres lore with a walk-off single in the 11th inning, sealing a 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers and punching the Padres' ticket to the 2025 postseason. The victory marks San Diego’s fourth playoff berth in the last six seasons and comes in front of a raucous, sellout crowd of 42,371 that erupted as Fermin’s hit soared into center field, bringing home Bryce Johnson—the automatic runner to start the inning—for the game-winning run. Fermin, who was traded from the Kansas City Royals at the deadline on July 31, wasted no time against Milwaukee reliever Grant Anderson. He jumped on the first pitch he saw, sending the ball into center and flipping his bat triumphantly before being mobbed by teammates in a euphoric on-field celebration.

"This is why we play the game," Fermin said postgame. "To come through in a moment like that, in front of these fans—it’s something I’ll never forget."

How It Happened

After both teams traded runs in the 10th inning, the Brewers threatened in the top of the 11th, but Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth played hero on defense. First, he initiated a critical rundown to erase Milwaukee’s automatic runner Andruw Monasterio at third base. Moments later, with the bases loaded, he smoothly fielded Jackson Chourio’s grounder and turned a slick 4-3 double play to keep the score tied.

In the bottom half of the inning, veteran infielder José Iglesias advanced Johnson to third with a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt, setting the stage for Fermin’s heroics.

Earlier in the game, the Padres had to claw back from a 3-1 deficit. Iglesias sparked the comeback in the fifth inning with a solo home run off Brewers ace Freddy Peralta. Then, in the seventh, three-time batting champion Luis Arraez delivered once again in the clutch—tying the game with a two-out RBI single on his bobblehead night, pumping his fists with emotion as the crowd roared.

Key Contributions

• Luis Arraez continued his recent hot streak, driving in at least one run for the fourth time in his last five games with runners in scoring position.

• Jake Cronenworth played a pivotal role both defensively in extra innings and at the plate throughout the game.

• José Iglesias, the seasoned utility man, not only homered but also executed a textbook bunt to set up the game-winning moment.

What It Means

With the win, San Diego improves its playoff position and pulls within 2.5 games of both the idle Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card race. Though their postseason spot is now secure, the Padres still have an outside shot at improving their seeding with a strong final week.

Meanwhile, the Brewers, who clinched their third consecutive NL Central title on Sunday, remain in the hunt for the top seed in the National League as they look to fine-tune their roster before October.

Looking Ahead

The series continues Tuesday as Milwaukee sends left-hander Bruce Zimmermann—recently called up from Triple-A Nashville—to the mound. He’ll face Padres right-hander Randy Vásquez (5-7, 3.94 ERA), who looks to build on a strong September.

But no matter what happens next, Monday night belonged to Freddy Fermin—and a Padres team that simply refuses to quit.