OK, it's not your typical setup to a joke but the punchline is something the Friar Faithful have had to deal with all too often this year: the Padres lost. This time it was 4-3 to the White Sox, a team destined for 100 losses, to open a three-game series in Chicago.

Padres’ NL West title hopes fading, clinching postseason berth imminent (Thomas Conroy – Gaslamp Ball) Machado meets the moment with clutch slam as Padres eye postseason (AJ Cassavell – Padres.com) Padres play small ball, get grand slam from Manny Machado to beat Mets (Kevin Acee – U-T)