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 Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 on Monday night to clinch their fourth playoff berth in six seasons.

Fermin, acquired from Kansas City at the July 31 trade deadline, drove the first pitch he saw from Grant Anderson (2-6) to center field, scoring Johnson and setting off a celebration among a sellout crowd of 42,371 at Petco Park.

The victory pulled the Padres (86-71) 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 for the National League’s first wild card spot. The three-time NL Central champion Brewers fell to 95-62.

The game was a back-and-forth affair that saw both teams score in the 10th inning to extend the contest. Milwaukee had taken a 4-3 lead in the top of the 10th when Brice Turang, who began the inning at second base as the automatic runner, scored on a fielder’s choice by Sal Frelick.

San Diego answered in the bottom of the frame. Luis Arraez, the automatic runner, scored when Gavin Sheets grounded into a forceout, knotting the game at 4-4 and setting the stage for the 11th-inning drama.

Milwaukee had built an early lead with a three-run second inning against Padres starter Nick Pivetta. Caleb Durbin drove in the first run with an RBI single, and Christian Yelich followed with a two-run single to center field, though Durbin was thrown out at third to end the inning.

San Diego chipped away at the 3-0 deficit. They scored a run in the first on a flyout by Jake Cronenworth and another in the fifth on a solo home run by Jose Iglesias, his second of the year, off Brewers starter Freddy Peralta.

The Padres tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh inning. After two walks, Arraez delivered a clutch single to right field off reliever Jared Koenig, scoring Iglesias.

Peralta turned in a solid outing for Milwaukee, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings while striking out six. Pivetta was nearly as effective for San Diego, surrendering three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings, fanning five.

Both bullpens were largely effective until the extra innings. Robert Suarez, Adrian Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada combined for three scoreless frames for San Diego, with Suarez striking out two in a perfect eighth. Aaron Ashby and Abner Uribe provided key scoreless innings for Milwaukee.

Bradgley Rodriguez (1-0) earned the win for San Diego, pitching the 11th inning and allowing one hit while intentionally walking a batter.

The game, which lasted 3 hours and 26 minutes, saw the combined score of 9 fall under the pregame over/under line of 7. The Padres outhit the Brewers 9-7.

The two teams continue their three-game series on Tuesday night at Petco Park.