San Diego Padres lose to Chicago White Sox, still clinch playoff spot

THE SAN Diego Padres clinched their first full-season playoff berth since 2006 Sunday afternoon despite losing 2-1 to the visiting Chicago White Sox in the rubber match of a three-game series.

The Padres officially claimed a wild-card berth with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning when Miami defeated the Brewers in 12 innings in Milwaukee. The Padres had also reached the playoffs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

The Padres were trailing the White Sox 2-0 at the moment of the Brewers’ defeat. Josh Bell stepped out of the batter’s box as the crowd of 41,407 — the 26th sellout this season at Petco Park — cheered.

A half-hour earlier, Elvis Andrus hit a solo homer to break up a scoreless pitching duel between Lance Lynn of the White Sox and Blake Snell of the Padres. It was Andrus’ 16th homer of the season and his second of the series.

The White Sox made it 2-0 in the top of the seventh. Andrew Vaughn drew a leadoff walk from reliever Steven Wilson, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single to center by Adam Engel.

After Mr. Bell struck out for the second out in the Padres’ seventh after they had clinched, Ha-Seong Kim homered off Mr. Lynn. It was the shortstop’s 11th homer of the season.

Mr. Lynn (8-7) gave up the one run on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in seven innings for the White Sox, who improved to 79-80 in hopes of reaching .500 by season’s end. Liam Hendricks picked up his 36th save, retiring Jorge Alfaro for the final out with two Padres on.

Mr. Snell (8-10) gave up one run on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts in six innings. Mr. Wilson gave up a run on a hit and a walk with a strikeout in one inning.

The Padres fell to 87-72 and had their lead over Philadelphia reduced to one game in the ongoing race for the second wild-card spot in the National League. — Reuters