San Diego, CA (Sports Network) – Brad Snyder drove in the only run of the game in the ninth inning, and the Chicago Cubs dealt the San Diego Padres a damaging 1-0 loss in the finale of a four-game series at PETCO Park.
San Diego now trails the NL West-leading Giants by three games and fell two games behind the wild card-leading Braves, who were idle on Thursday. The Padres wrap up the regular season in San Francisco and must sweep the three- game set to force a one-game playoff for the division title. There is still a chance both San Francisco (91-68) and San Diego (88-71) make the playoffs, but only if wild card-leading Atlanta (90-69) falters in its weekend series with the NL East-champion Phillies.