SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Chicago White Sox tied the American League record with their 119th loss Saturday night when Xander Bogaerts and Elias Díaz each hit a two-run home run to lift the San Diego Padres to a 6-2 victory and move them closer to a playoff spot.

The White Sox (36-119) matched the AL record set by the 2003 Detroit Tigers, who finished 43-119. Another loss for Chicago in its final seven games would tie the New York Mets’ 1900 record of 120 losses. Chicago has a 9-48 record since the All-Star break.

The 1899 Cleveland Spiders hold the major league losing record at 20-134.

Chris Flexen (2-15) remained winless in his last 23 starts and the White Sox lost their 20th straight road series.

David Peralta also hit a home run for the Padres (89-66), who moved to within three games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West with seven games remaining. San Diego maintained its two-game lead over Arizona and is the best NL wild card.

The surging Padres reduced their magic number to two to secure their second playoff berth in three seasons, and got no help from Atlanta or the New York Mets, both of whom won on Saturday.

The White Sox forced extra innings on Friday night before the Padres won 3-2.

“They’ve been playing good baseball the last few days,” Bogaerts said. “Obviously we want to win every game by a big margin, but these guys are resisting. They’re trying to be a spoiler for us. Nothing has been made easy for us the last few days. It was nice to be able to fight a little more than people expected.”

Bogaerts gave the Padres a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a hit to left-center field against Flexen with no outs. It was Bogaerts’ 11th home run and came when rookie Jackson Merrill came on with a leadoff single.

Peralta hit a one-out home run in the third, his eighth. Merrill, considered by some to be the favorite for NL Rookie of the Year, hit an RBI single in the fifth.

Díaz hit a two-run shot against former Padres relief pitcher Enyel De Los Santos in the eighth inning, his sixth.

Lenyn Sosa hit an RBI single against Martín Pérez (5-5) in the sixth inning for the White Sox. Bryan Ramos drew a bases-loaded walk from Padres relief pitcher Jason Adam in the eighth inning.

Pérez held Chicago to one run and two hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out six times and walking three.

“We have to stay focused. I know it’s only two games, but we still have a long week ahead of us and we just have to finish strong,” said Pérez, who came from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the trade deadline.

He was supported by an excellent defense. Third baseman Manny Machado stopped a grounder from Miguel Vargas on the first pitch of the game and left fielder Jurickson Profar made a sensational catch on Chuckie Robinson’s sinking liner at the end of the seventh inning.

“This is a good team. We have good guys and we fight for the same thing,” said Pérez.

Tanner Scott made five outs for his 22nd save.

Flexen allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings, striking out three times and allowing two runs.

TRAINING ROOM

White Sox: RHP Michael Soroka was recalled from rehab at Triple-A Charlotte and activated from the injured list. RHP Chad Kuhl was designated for assignment. RHP Jordan Leasure was recalled from rehab, activated from the injured list and sent to Charlotte.

Next

White Sox RHP Sean Burke (1-0, 2.25 ERA) and Padres RHP Yu Darvish (6-3, 3.21) are scheduled to start in the series finale on Sunday.

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