The San Diego Padres’ postseason hopes took a serious hit Sunday after closer Mason Miller walked three straight batters in the ninth inning, setting up a game-winning two-run single from Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio. The Brewers won 4-3, taking a 2-0 lead in the National League Division Series.
San Diego had entered October riding a hot streak, winning 20 of its last 23 regular-season games and sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card round. That momentum vanished in Milwaukee, where the Padres now face elimination.
The Padres had built an early advantage thanks to RBI plays from Ty France and Dustin Harris. Milwaukee clawed back on an RBI single from Sal Frelick and a Padres fielding error, keeping the game tight into the late innings.
Manager Craig Stammen called on All-Star closer Mason Miller to get a six-out save. Miller cruised through a 12-pitch eighth inning, but his control fell apart in the ninth. Without allowing a hit, he walked three consecutive batters to load the bases, setting up Chourio’s walk-off single.
Miller did not mince words afterward.
“Terrible,” Miller said. “I didn’t do my job today, so instead of being in here with a win and a series tie, we’re in a hole, so it feels pretty bad.”
He placed the blame squarely on his own lack of control.
“The cardinal rule is pretty much: You don’t beat yourself. And I beat myself today,” Miller said. “I mean, a base hit with nobody on doesn’t win them the game. A base hit after you walk the bases loaded does.”
Stammen defended the decision to ask Miller for two full innings of work.
“Top of the lineup in the eighth probably made that decision for Mason,” Stammen said. “Going into the game, we were thinking of Mason for six outs anyway, especially how quick the eighth inning went for him. He was just battling the strike zone there at the end.”
The Padres came into the postseason with ambitions of reaching the World Series, but the loss leaves them in a steep hole. San Diego must now win three straight games to keep its season alive, starting with Game 3 on Tuesday at Petco Park.
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