Phoenix – Brandon Pfaadt and 42-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander matched a lot of zeros in a mid-September pitcher’s duel between NL West rivals still hoping to get into the playoffs.

Both starters were spectacular, though neither got a decision in San Francisco’s 5-1 win over Arizona on Wednesday. Every run was scored in the 11th inning.

Pfaadt, a 26-year-old right-hander in his third season with the Diamondbacks, allowed only one hit over nine scoreless innings. He struck out seven and walked one while throwing 97 pitches in what would have been the distance without extra innings.

“We unfortunately couldn’t capitalize on an unreal start by Brandon Pfaadt,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “He’s never pitched that deep into a baseball game, but didn’t let it affect him. He went out there and executed an unbelievable game plan.”

While Verlander needed 10 more pitches to get through his seven scoreless innings, the right-hander matched his longest outing with the Giants and extended an impressive stretch.

Verlander, the former Tiger who was 0-8 through his first 16 starts this season, has given up only three runs over 31 innings (0.87 ERA) in his last five. Beginning with his first win on July 23, he is 3-2 with a 2.17 ERA in his past 11 games to lower his season ERA to 3.75.

“It’s too bad we couldn’t get him a win,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s pitching this well this late in the season. … It’s pretty remarkable.”

The Giants (76-76) lost the first two games in the series at Arizona and were 2 1/2 games behind the Mets, who played later Wednesday, for the final National League wild card. The Diamondbacks (77-76) were just ahead at two games behind New York.

Pfaadt didn’t allow a hit until rookie Drew Gilbert’s one-out single in the sixth. Heliot Ramos hit into a double play two pitches later.

Verlander allowed three hits and walked two.

After rookie Joel Peguero (3-0) worked a scoreless 10th for the Giants, Bryce Elkridge walked leading off the 11th against John Curtiss (3-2) and Jerar Encarnacion singled for the Giants’ second hit to make it 1-0. Patrick Bailey singled to load the bases and Christian Koss’ double made it 3-0.

Cubs clinch first postseason berth since 2020

Pittsburgh – The wait was five years. It seemed longer.

In the middle of a darkened visitors clubhouse at PNC Park, the Chicago Cubs embraced each other. Champagne flowed and flew. They clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 2020, but celebrated for the first time since 2017.

Everything was muted during the coronavirus pandemic when the Cubs last qualified. They held off after making it in 2018, hoping to win the NL Central, just to finish second to the Milwaukee Brewers.

After defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-4 on Wednesday, Chicago finally decided to let loose.

“When you’re in it, you think it’s going to happen every year,” pitcher Matthew Boyd said. “The fact and the reality is this is really hard to do. … This means so much to all of us. We’re not done yet. That’s the most important thing. We still know where we want to go.”

The Cubs (88-64) seemed destined for the playoffs since going 18-9 in May. Still, this hasn’t been straightforward. They lead the NL Wild Card and are 4 1/2 games back of the first-place Brewers in the Central, having surrendered the division lead on July 28 after sitting alone at the top through July 19.

After Milwaukee took over, Chicago could have folded. Instead, it’s surging with four straight wins and seven victories in eight games.

“It’s a grind of a season. You celebrate the first goal you accomplished,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We’ve made it to our first goal and that’s exciting. For everybody that’s been a part of the grind the whole year, for everybody that’s worked so hard to put us in this position, it’s a fun thing to do.

“You don’t get to do this in regular jobs – get to celebrate and throw champagne on each other. You just don’t get to do it, right?”

Ian Happ popped the cork – in the clubhouse and on the field. He drove in three runs against the Pirates, belting a two-run home run in the first inning.

The Pittsburgh native has played nine years with the Cubs. He was a rookie in 2017, when Chicago took the Central one year after ending a 107-year drought without winning the World Series.

Happ was there with Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Javier Báez and others. This time, it was Pete Crow-Armstrong by his side, pulled into a tight hug for a simple message.

“There was definitely a mention of, ‘This is not the last,’” Crow-Armstrong said. “I mean, Ian learned from some of the best. Ian is one of the best at passing that on. Ian has meant a lot to me, just as a person. I’ll follow his lead. … I’ve got full trust in Ian Happ as a leader.”

Crow-Armstrong was dynamic with 25 home runs and 71 RBIs through in 95 games through the All-Star Break. The 23-year-old has cooled considerably, having four homers and driving in 19 runs since, and is looking forward to starting fresh in the playoffs.

“I don’t know. I’ve never done this,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I’m just excited to keep doing what we’re doing, doing what we’ve done all year. I’ve never experienced October baseball. I’m just ready to go all in.”

It might be necessary.

Kyle Tucker, an All-Star right fielder, has been on the IL since Sept. 9 with a left calf injury. He will visit with a physical therapy group in Florida used in his recovery from a right leg injury while with the Astros last season.

Tucker is hitting .270 with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in his first season since being traded to the Cubs in December.

“We’re aligned with Kyle,” Counsell said before the game Wednesday. “This is the best way for him to make some improvements. Unfortunately, we’ve plateaued and we weren’t making progress. That’s frustrating for Kyle.”

For every mention of how great this moment was, there was one of how it’s not enough. The Cubs want more. Not just the division, but the World Series. Tucker would make that easier, but this wasn’t the day to worry.

“We got to go to the playoffs in 2020, but doing it near the end of a true 162 is totally different,” Nico Hoerner said. “Baseball is such a game of persistence and comradery. Getting to celebrate like this is a really special thing.

“It’s obviously not our ultimate goal, but it’s still a huge milestone along the way. It’s awesome to celebrate with this group.”

White Sox lefty Pérez exits start

Chicago – Chicago White Sox veteran left-hander Martin Pérez exited his start against Baltimore on Wednesday because of left shoulder soreness.

Pérez, who missed nearly four months this season because of a flexor tendon strain, called timeout after throwing a 2-2 pitch with two outs in the fourth inning of Chicago’s 3-1 loss. He departed after he was visited on the mound by manager Will Venable and an athletic trainer.

“At that moment, I was like, I’m not gonna force anything,” Pérez said. “I was just trying to be smart because if I keep pushing I’m going to hurt my elbow too. So I think it was a great time for me to tell them take me out because I was not feeling good.”

Venable said the initial evaluation showed “nothing overly concerning,” but that Pérez would get a scan Friday.

Steven Wilson replaced Pérez and struck out Jackson Holliday on the next pitch to end the inning.

The 34-year-old Pérez is in his 14th big league season, his first with the White Sox. An All-Star with Texas in 2022 before helping the Rangers win their only World Series title the following season, he has a $3.5 million salary this year in a contract that includes a $10 million mutual option for 2026 with a $1.5 million buyout.

Pérez was making his sixth start in seven appearances since returning from the 60-day injured list on Aug. 13. He allowed three runs and five hits against Baltimore, and he is 1-6 with a 3.54 ERA in his 11 games this season.

“I know my body, and it’s nothing too bad. It’s just maybe rest a little bit,” Pérez said. “But I’ll be ready for next year. I think I can go three or four more years. … Hopefully it’s not too bad and we just have a good offseason.”

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