SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Jonathan Sanchez's five scoreless innings paced the San Francisco Giants to a 3-0 victory over San Diego Sunday to win the National League West crown.
The Giants' win in the last regular-season game of the year also eliminated San Diego from post-season contention and handed the NL wild-card spot to the Atlanta Braves.
Sanchez (13-9) scattered three hits and struck out five, surviving five walks. He also tripled and scored the game's first run for San Francisco, which made the playoffs for the first time since 2003.
The Giants will host the Atlanta Braves Thursday in the opener of one division series while the Cincinnati Reds will travel to Philadelphia in the other NLDS match-up.
Buster Posey's eighth-inning homer sealed the Giants' momentous win.
San Diego starter Mat Latos (14-10) took the loss, allowing two runs on eight hits over six innings.
The Padres finished the year 90-72. They once held a 6 1/2-game lead in the NL West but then ran into a 10-game losing streak.
They had a chance to force a three-way playoff if they swept their three-game series at AT&T Park. They defeated the Giants Friday and Saturday but couldn't complete the sweep with a Sunday win.
