Padres Lose In Ninth, 4-3, On Blown Save By Mason Miller

The San Diego Padres suffered another crushing loss in the second game of the NLDS, 4-3, as a two-run single in the bottom of the ninth off Mason Miller by Jackson Chourio gave the Milwaukee Brewers a win and a 2-0 series lead.

This was a game that the Padres should have taken but didn’t. They surprised the Brewers once again by getting off to an early lead off Milwaukee starter Logan Henderson. It was a small-ball special as Manny Machado walked with two outs, then advanced to second on a wild pitch by Henderson, with Ty France singling home to make it 1-0 in the first. 

The second run scored in the fifth thanks to some poor Milwaukee defense. A single by Luis Campusano started the rally, and he reached second on a fielder’s choice.  A pair of errors from second baseman Bryce Turang and and shortstop Cooper Pratt brough the run home and doubled the Padres lead to 2-0. 

San Diego starter Michael King lost it in the fifth, starting with a two-out double from Christian Yelich, and Sal Frelick quickly singled him home. But King recovered after giving up another hit to get the third out as Milwaukee cut the lead to 2-1.

King exited in the sixth after hitting Yelich in the back, but Yuki Matsui came in and picked up King to maintain the lead. The Padres padded that lead in the seventh, as Ty France singled home Fernando Tatis Jr., although the Padres should have had more as Manny Machado was thrown out at third on France’s hit. 

That made it 3-1, but the Breweres came back with a run of their own in the seventh off Matsui that was aided by an error at second from Jake Cronenworth. A single from Garrett Mitchell started the action, and a walk to Frelick got him to second. The error happened on a ground ball by David Hamilton, with Mitchell scoring to cut the lead to 3-2. 

Manager Craig Stammen then called on Miller for a two-inning save, and the first inning was a typical 1-2-3 Miller special. But the closer walked Yelich in the ninth, and Yelich stole second.  Miller then walked Felick and pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez to load the bases with two outs. Jackson Chourio outlasted the closer in a tough at bat and lined a single to center to bring home two runs, and the Padres will now head home to San Diego down 2-0 with their backs to the wall.