Jackson Chourio hit a two-run, walk-off single off closer Mason Miller with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday and a 2-0 lead in the National League Division Series at American Family Field.
Baseball games often turn on the thinnest margins, where a win probability chart tracks a frantic climb before a sudden, sheer drop. For most of Game 2, that trend line favored San Diego. The Padres held a 79.6 percent win probability entering the bottom of the ninth inning, protecting a 3-2 lead and handing the ball to their hard-throwing closer to secure the final six outs. Instead, the game unspooled into a dramatic Milwaukee comeback that left the Padres on the brink of postseason elimination, giving the home side a dominant 2-0 edge in the best-of-five series.
Mason Miller Dominates Eighth Before Struggling in Ninth
The plan relied on a proven formula. Michael King started for the Padres, following the script the team likes best by taking the ball to begin the contest, before handing off to their bullpen. Later in the contest, San Diego turned to Mason Miller, who saved 38 of 41 regular-season opportunities with a 1.67 ERA and averaged 16.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Miller retired the side in order in the eighth inning using just 14 pitches and two strikeouts against the middle of the Milwaukee order, but in the ninth, his triple-digit heater deserted the strike zone.
After opening the final frame with a groundout, Miller issued his first career postseason walks. Christian Yelich drew a walk to keep the inning alive, and Sal Frelick followed by drawing his second walk in three innings. Veteran pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez, who has seven career postseason home runs from his days with the New York Yankees, was summoned from the bench. Rather than swinging from the heels to end the game, Sanchez saw six pitches from Miller and did not swing at any of them, earning a full-count walk that loaded the bases for Chourio. Miller threw a 101.3 mph fastball that the young outfielder turned around.
I didn't do my job today. So instead of being in here with a win and a series tied, we're in a hole. So it feels pretty bad.
Jackson Chourio Delivers the Winning Hit
The 22-year-old continued building his October lore by driving a fastball back up the middle past second baseman Jake Cronenworth, who failed to haul it in on a diving backhand try, allowing a pair of scores to touch home and spark wild celebrations amid a capacity crowd at American Family Field.
He loves those moments. And he knows how talented he is, and what he can do on a baseball field. He can do anything.
Fielding Errors Help Padres Score Early Runs
A wild pitch set up San Diego’s first run in the opening frame when Manny Machado drew a walk, advanced on the wild pitch, and scored on Ty France’s single. Brice Turang’s fielding error in the fifth inning led to the Padres’ second run, and David Hamilton’s miscue in the seventh led to San Diego’s third run as France came through again with an RBI single into right field to drive in Fernando Tatis Jr. for a 3-1 lead.
San Diego manager Craig Stammen noted after the game that both squads are built with good defenses and speed that force mistakes. Looking to mount a comeback in the eighth, Jackson Merrill and pinch-hitter Samad Taylor hit consecutive singles for San Diego, but Aaron Ashby struck out Xander Bogaerts with a 100 mph sinker before Freddy Fermin rolled into a double play that ended the frame.
The whirlwind weekend leaves Milwaukee just one win away from a return trip to the National League Championship Series.
[We] could very easily be going home up 2-0. But the reality is, we're not. We have to go and have to win. No ifs, ands or buts. Got to play our best baseball now.
