Jackson Chourio delivered a pivotal two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday night, securing a 4-3 walk-off victory for the Milwaukee Brewers over the San Diego Padres and giving Milwaukee a 2-0 lead in the National League Division Series. The game, held at American Family Field in Milwaukee, marked the second consecutive day the Brewers rallied to overcome deficits late against the Padres, who had entered the postseason on a 20-3 run.
San Diego entered the ninth inning holding a 3-2 lead with closer Mason Miller on the mound, seeking his first six-out save since 2024. Miller, a two-time All-Star who recorded 38 saves in the regular season, retired the side in order in the eighth but struggled in the ninth, issuing three walks. Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick drew consecutive walks to open the inning, followed by a flyout from Andrew Vaughn. Pinch hitter Gary Sánchez then worked a full count walk, loading the bases and setting the stage for Chourio’s at-bat.
After observing Miller’s inconsistent pitches early in the inning, Chourio connected on a 2-2 fastball clocked at 101.3 mph, lining a ball up the middle that slipped past second baseman Jake Cronenworth, who was attempting a diving backhand stop. The single allowed Yelich and Frelick to score, sealing the Brewers’ victory.
Chourio, 22, credited his clutch performance to lessons learned early in his career. Speaking through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert, he reflected on a moment in his rookie season when he struck out to end a loss, telling himself he would never make the last out in such a situation again. “At that point, everything turned for me,” Chourio said. “I’d dedicate myself to fighting and doing whatever I could for the team.” His two-run homer in the previous game’s third inning had also sparked a similar comeback for Milwaukee.
The Padres’ potent offense was held largely in check by Brewers pitching throughout the game. Starter Logan Henderson allowed two runs (one earned) over five-plus innings, while five Milwaukee relievers combined for five scoreless innings. Padres starter Michael King retired the first 14 batters he faced but allowed a two-out double to Yelich in the fifth. San Diego capitalized on Milwaukee’s defensive errors to build a 3-1 lead in the seventh inning, but the Brewers responded with unearned runs of their own.
Saturday’s opener featured a dramatic defensive play when Ty France hit a towering fly ball that struck a cable on the stadium roof and was caught by Chourio, ruling it a fair out under American Family Field’s ground rules. The play denied the Padres a go-ahead home run and helped the Brewers secure a 3-2 win.
The series now shifts to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday, with right-hander Dustin May scheduled to start for Milwaukee against Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta. Milwaukee secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs after winning 103 games during the regular season.
Padres manager Craig Stammen acknowledged the challenge the Brewers pose but remained optimistic about returning home. “They’re a great team. You saw how hard they battle us here in Milwaukee. But we like where we are when we play at home,” Stammen said.
The Padres have not lost consecutive games since early September, making their back-to-back defeats in this series a notable shift. As the best-of-five series continues, both teams look to build momentum heading into the critical next two games in San Diego.