Milwaukee’s 3-2 Game 1 win over San Diego came down to one of those October plays that can live in a ballpark’s lore: a Ty France fly ball, the American Family Field roof structure and Jackson Chourio waiting beneath it in left. With the Padres threatening in the ninth, a shot that looked capable of leaving the yard instead clipped an overhead cable and dropped into Chourio’s glove for an out.
A roof-ball ruling turns the ninth inning
France came up with one runner aboard and one out in the top of the ninth on Saturday night. He drove the ball high toward left field, but it struck a cable suspended under the roof. From the field, it was impossible to know whether the ball would have landed fair or foul without the obstruction.
The stadium’s ground rules made the play live because the cable was over fair territory. Chourio made the catch, and the next Padres hitter was retired to finish Milwaukee’s one-run victory.
- A ball hitting the roof, truss or cable above fair ground remains playable.
- If a fielder catches that ball, the hitter is out and runners may advance at their own risk.
- A batted ball contacting the roof structure over foul ground is ruled dead.
France’s drive carried rare height
The ball came off France’s bat at a 49-degree launch angle, an unusually steep trajectory even in the Statcast era. Only 10 home runs tracked in that era have been hit at an angle of 49 degrees or greater.
American Family Field has never produced a homer with a launch angle higher than 46 degrees, making France’s towering drive especially difficult to judge before it met the cable.
Padres call it a tough break
Padres manager Craig Stammen said the possibility of a roof-related ruling had actually come up during the pregame umpire discussion. It seemed remote until France’s fly ball made it real.
Stammen said the club viewed it as an unlucky turn, noting that the ball appeared to have a chance to be a home run. He added that it was the second time this season the Padres had been hurt by such a play, but said San Diego should be ready to respond.
Murphy tips his cap to Uecker
Brewers manager Pat Murphy met the strange finish with a little Milwaukee humor. He joked that Bob Uecker must have reached out to knock the ball down, allowing Chourio to secure the catch.
Milwaukee now holds the early edge in the National League Division Series. Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, 3 p.m. CT and 1 p.m. PT, with FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One carrying the broadcast.
