Chourio Walk-Off Extends Brewers' NLDS Dominance as Padres Face Elimination
A ninth-inning single gives Milwaukee a 2-0 series lead; San Diego must win Game 3 at Petco Park or face the end.
Per ESPN, Jackson Chourio's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 4-3 victory on 4 October and a 2-0 lead in the National League Division Series. Facing Padres closer Mason Miller with the bases loaded and two outs, Chourio sent the ball into center field, scoring both the tying and winning runs at American Family Field.
The Walk-Off Moment
Per ESPN, Mason Miller's fastball registered at 101.3 mph as it came toward the plate. Chourio's swing was harder still: 109.5 mph exit velocity, carrying the ball 153 feet into center field for the game-winning hit. The crowd of 41,683 at American Family Field watched the game end after 3 hours 14 minutes, with the Brewers one victory away from advancing to the League Championship Series.
San Diego's Tight Battle
The Padres had kept Milwaukee within reach throughout. Per ESPN, Padres starter Michael King held the Brewers to just one run on three hits across five innings, striking out six without issuing a walk. Brewers starter Landen Henderson was equally efficient: five innings, two runs allowed on two hits, with three walks and four strikeouts. The game remained close until Chourio's moment arrived, and Miller's opportunity slipped away.
Manny Machado captured the intensity after Game 1, per Yahoo Sports, calling it "a battle. Punch to punch, blow by blow, it was back and forth." By the end of Game 2, the momentum had shifted decisively toward Milwaukee.
Game 1 Set Milwaukee's Tone
A day earlier, on 3 October, the Brewers won Game 1 3-2 in the same venue, establishing command of the series at home. Per ESPN, Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski threw four innings, allowing two runs while recording six strikeouts. The Padres jumped ahead with two runs in the second inning, but Chourio answered in the third with a 420-foot two-run home run that tied the game at 2-2.
The tie lasted until the seventh inning. Per ESPN, William Contreras hit a 406-foot solo home run off Padres starter Adrian Morejon, putting Milwaukee ahead 3-2. That lead held for the final two innings. Morejon took the loss, charged with allowing the go-ahead run in the seventh.
| Game | Date | Result | Venue | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 Oct | Brewers 3, Padres 2 | American Family Field | Contreras solo HR (7th) |
| 2 | 4 Oct | Brewers 4, Padres 3 | American Family Field | Chourio walk-off single (9th) |
The Belief Behind the Moment
Brewers manager Pat Murphy captured something beyond statistics after Game 2. Per ESPN, Murphy said simply: "It's belief. They have a belief."
Christian Yelich, Chourio's teammate, echoed the confidence. Per ESPN, Yelich said of Chourio: "He loves those moments... He can do anything."
Per ESPN, Chourio is the third player in Brewers franchise history with a postseason walk-off. The moment carried weight in both the immediate outcome and the franchise's October record.
For Mason Miller, the loss stung immediately. Per ESPN, the Padres closer said: "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."
What Comes Next
Milwaukee finished the regular season 103-59, the best record in Major League Baseball, per Yahoo Sports. San Diego finished 91-71, twelve games further back in the standings.
Game 3 is scheduled for 6 October at Petco Park in San Diego at 6:30 p.m. PT, per Yahoo Sports. The Brewers will start Dustin May; the Padres will counter with Nick Pivetta. Per Yahoo Sports, the best-of-five format means the Brewers can clinch a berth in the League Championship Series with one more win. San Diego must win Game 3 or face elimination.