Mason Miller came within one strike of a six-out save Sunday afternoon, but Jackson Chourio’s two-run single in the ninth sent the Brewers to a 4-3 walk-off win at American Family Field and left the Padres trailing the National League Division Series, two games to none.
The result
San Diego’s postseason has reached the point the club expected all along: close games handed to a bullpen that had carried a best-in-baseball reputation through the summer. In Milwaukee, however, that strength has not finished the job in either of the first two games.
The Padres held a late advantage again in Game 2 before Miller, their high-octane closer, was asked to cover the final six outs. He entered the ninth trying to protect a 3-2 lead and was one out from closing it down.
Instead, Miller issued three walks to load the bases. He moved ahead of Chourio, but the Brewers left fielder battled back to a 2-2 count. Miller’s fastball was put in play up the middle, slipping just beyond second baseman Jake Cronenworth’s reach and into center field.
Two Milwaukee runs crossed, and the Brewers had a 4-3 victory.
It was a harsh ending for a Padres club that had the ball in the hands of the relievers it trusts most. San Diego had been positioned late in both games of the series, only to leave Milwaukee without a win.
Now the Brewers take their 2-0 edge to Petco Park, where the Padres went 53-30 during the regular season and have already collected two playoff victories. San Diego must win Tuesday and Wednesday to force a deciding Game 5 back in Milwaukee on Friday.
The rotation next
Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday night in San Diego, with first pitch set for 9:30 p.m. ET, 8:30 p.m. CT and 6:30 p.m. PT. The game will air on FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One.
For the Padres, the assignment is simple now: turn their home field into a reset, win twice, and give the bullpen another chance to carry a late October game across the line.
