SAN DIEGO — Rookie Chris Paddack pitched six brilliant innings and the San Diego beat the Cubs 4-0 Wednesday night, dropping Chicago into a tie with Milwaukee for the second NL wild-card spot.

Manuel Margot homered off San Diegan Cole Hamels and also made a spectacular catch in centre field for the Padres.

The Cubs lost for the second straight night and for the fifth time in six games. Milwaukee beat Miami 7-5 in its first game since reigning MVP Christian Yelich suffered a season-ending knee injury. Philadelphia and the New York Mets are two games behind the Cubs and Brewers.

Hamels (7-7) didn't get out of the fifth. The left-hander, who went to Rancho Bernardo High, allowed one run on four hits, struck out six and walked four in 4 1/3 innings.

Paddack (9-7) held Chicago to three hits while striking out seven and walking one. The right-hander retired the side in order in three of his first four innings. After Anthony Rizzo tripled to right leading off the second, Paddack retired the side in order.

Paddack could have two starts remaining, or the Padres could shut him down. The team has been monitoring all year after he pitched just 90 innings last season in the minors while coming back from Tommy John surgery that sidelined him all of 2017. He's thrown 135 2/3 innings.

Margot provided the Padres their first run one night after his walk-off walk in the 10th inning lifted them to a wild 9-8 win against the Cubs. He drove Hamels' first pitch of the fifth into the seats in left field, his 12th.

Margot made a leaping catch of Nicholas Castellanos' drive to centre field in the fourth, denying him of at least an extra-base hit.

The Padres made it 2-0 in the sixth when rookie Ty France scored on reliever Brad Wieck's throwing error. The Padres were trying a double steal when Wieck's throw home went over catcher Willson Contreras, allowing France to score.

Wil Myers hit a two-run single in the seventh.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: Manager Joe Maddon said closer Craig Kimbrel, on the IL with right elbow inflammation, probably will be out until next week. He hasn't pitched since Sept. 1, when he allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning against Milwaukee. ... INF Addison Russell won't play until the Cubs are back in Chicago starting Friday. He was beaned Sunday in Milwaukee.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Yu Darvish (5-6, 4.12) is scheduled to make his team-high 29th start in the series finale Thursday. He's 2-1 with a 4.13 ERA in four career starts against the Padres.

Padres: RHP Dinelson Lamet (2-4, 3.95) has allowed three earned runs or fewer in nine of his 11 starts, while striking out five or more in 10 starts.

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