SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — Freddy Fermin singled in automatic runner Bryce Johnson with one out in the 11th inning, and the San Diego Padres beat the three-time NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 Monday night to clinch their fourth playoff berth in six seasons.

In a tense, back-and-forth contest that stretched past the three-and-a-half-hour mark, the Padres (86-71) secured the victory in front of a sellout crowd of 42,371 at Petco Park. The win pulled San Diego within 2 1/2 games of the idle Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West race and 2 1/2 games behind the idle Chicago Cubs in the race for the National League’s first of three wild card spots.

Fermin, acquired from Kansas City at the trade deadline on July 31, drove the first pitch he saw from Grant Anderson (2-6) to center field. He tossed his bat aside and then tossed his helmet as he approached first base, setting off a wild celebration on the field.

The game was a pitcher’s duel early, with both starters putting up zeros after a first-inning run by the Padres. San Diego struck first when Jake Cronenworth hit a sacrifice fly off Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta, scoring Manny Machado who had singled and advanced to third on a single by Jackson Merrill.

The Brewers (95-62) responded forcefully in the top of the second inning against San Diego starter Nick Pivetta. They batted around, scoring three runs on three hits and two walks. The inning was capped by a two-run single from Christian Yelich that scored Andrew Vaughn and Isaac Collins. The rally could have been larger, but Caleb Durbin, who had an RBI single earlier in the inning, was thrown out at third base on Yelich’s hit to end the frame.

Peralta settled in after the first, striking out six over five innings of work while allowing just four hits and two earned runs. His lone mistake after the first inning was a solo home run to Jose Iglesias leading off the bottom of the fifth, which cut the Milwaukee lead to 3-2.

Pivetta matched Peralta’s effort, also lasting into the sixth inning. He surrendered three earned runs on four hits, walking three and striking out five before turning the game over to the Padres’ bullpen.

The San Diego relievers initially kept the Brewers in check. Robert Suarez, Adrian Morejon, and Jeremiah Estrada combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four. Their work allowed the Padres’ offense to chip away.

In the bottom of the seventh, San Diego tied the game at 3-3 against the Milwaukee bullpen. Iglesias worked a walk and was driven in by a sharp line-drive single from Luis Arraez, scoring from second base.

The game remained deadlocked into extra innings. In the top of the 10th, the Brewers pushed their automatic runner, Brice Turang, across to take a 4-3 lead. Turang advanced to third on a deep flyout by William Contreras and then scored on a fielder’s choice grounder by Sal Frelick that was fielded by Iglesias at shortstop.

Needing a run to extend the game in the bottom of the 10th, the Padres answered. Their automatic runner, Luis Arraez, came around to score when Gavin Sheets grounded into a forceout, knotting the game again at 4-4. San Diego loaded the bases later in the inning, but could not push across the winning run, sending the game to the 11th.

Milwaukee threatened in their half of the 11th against winning pitcher Bradgley Rodriguez (1-0). Caleb Durbin, who began the inning on second base, was thrown out at the plate on a fielder’s choice. A soft infield single by Joey Ortiz then put runners on the corners, but Rodriguez intentionally walked Yelich to load the bases before inducing an inning-ending double play from Jackson Chourio.

That set the stage for Fermin’s heroics in the bottom of the inning. After Iglesias successfully sacrificed Johnson to third base, Fermin lined Anderson’s first offering into center field to end the game.

The victory was a significant one for the Padres, solidifying their postseason aspirations. The Brewers, despite the loss, have already secured the NL Central title but saw a late lead slip away in the series opener. The two teams are scheduled to continue their three-game series on Tuesday night at Petco Park.