AP Photo | Milwaukee’s Travis Shaw scores as San Diego catcher Austin Hedges makes a throw to third on a ball hit by Trent Grisham during the sixth inning Thursday.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain has had his share of aches and pains this season. He managed to do some damage to the San Diego Padres before departing with another ailment.

Cain hit a solo home run to help lift the Brewers past the Padres 5-1 on Thursday before exiting the game with a sore left ankle.

Milwaukee moved within one game of Washington for the top NL wild-card spot, slipping ahead of the Cubs for the second spot after Chicago fell 4-3 to the Cardinals in 10 innings.

Cain, who is expected to undergo more tests, has also dealt with a sore thumb this season and has been playing despite lingering knee pain.

“It’s been a rough year as far as the injuries,” the veteran center fielder said. “We’ll see what happens. I plan on being out there.”

While Cain provided some offense, Milwaukee pitchers combined to strike out 16 and the Brewers improved their playoff position with the win.

The Brewers are 7-2 since reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich broke his right kneecap on a foul ball.

“We understand it’s not going to be easy,” Cain said. “Hopefully, we can find a way to win the division or sneak in the playoffs somehow.”

Ryan Braun, who struck out with a runner on second to end a 2-1 loss to the Padres on Wednesday night, put Milwaukee ahead with an RBI double in the first inning off Joey Lucchesi (10-9). The Brewers added a run in the third when Keston Huira doubled and later scored on Lucchesi’s wild pitch.

Eric Hosmer’s leadoff homer in the fourth against starter Jordan Lyles made it 2-1.

Cain then lined a home run to left in the fourth.

The Brewers scored twice in the sixth when pinch-hitter Travis Shaw walked and scored on a double by Trent Grisham, who replaced Cain. Grisham hustled to third on the throw to the plate and came around to score as catcher Austin Hedges’ throw sailed into left field.

Lyles, acquired from Pittsburgh on July 29, turned in another effective, although short, outing in limiting the Padres to three hits and one run in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out nine, including six in a row.

“We created some opportunities against (Lyles) but that’s too many punch-outs to win a baseball game,” Padres manager Andy Green said.

Freddy Peralta (7-3) struck out three of the four batters he faced. Josh Hader stranded two inherited runners and recorded three outs to pick up his 34th save in 40 tries, breaking a franchise record for left-handers previously set by Dan Plesac in 1989.