Brewers Outlast Padres in NLDS Opener After Bizarre Roof-Ball Play

The Milwaukee Brewers took a 1-0 lead in their National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres on Saturday night, holding on for a 3-2 victory in a game decided by a unique ground rule and a dramatic catch.

San Diego had a runner on first with one out in the ninth inning when Ty France hit a towering fly ball. The ball struck a railing on American Family Field's roof before outfielder Jackson Chourio caught it in fair territory on the left-field warning track. Under the stadium's rules, a batted ball striking the roof in fair territory is a live ball, and Chourio's catch retired France. The Padres' challenge that the drive was foul was unsuccessful.

Jackson Merrill lined out to right field to end the game, giving the Brewers a thrilling win.

William Contreras hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning for Milwaukee, which has now won 16 of its last 19 games. San Diego, despite the loss, has won four of its last 24 outings. The Padres had chased Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski after four innings.

This best-of-five series continues Sunday with Game 2. San Diego is set to start Michael King (12-10, 3.21 ERA), and Milwaukee will counter with Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47).

Contreras, who had struggled against the Padres during the season, delivered the decisive hit on a 3-2 pitch from Adrian Morejon. His 406-foot blast to right-center field gave the Brewers the lead. Contreras joined his brother, Willson Contreras, as the fifth set of brothers to homer in the same postseason, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Padres had opportunities to extend their lead throughout the game, particularly late. In the seventh, San Diego loaded the bases against Abner Uribe before DL Hall struck out Merrill to end the threat. The eighth inning saw Hall issue two walks, loading the bases again. Austin Hays hit a fly ball to right that advanced a pinch-runner to third, but Trevor Megill then struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. to strand runners on the corners.

San Diego initially took a 2-0 lead in the second inning against Misiorowski. Xander Bogaerts, Ethan Salas, and Luis Campusano hit consecutive singles, with Campusano driving in Bogaerts. Jake Cronenworth hit a grounder to first, but Salas was safe at the plate. Manny Machado grounded out to end the inning with the bases loaded.

The Brewers responded in the third inning when Jackson Chourio hit a two-run homer to left-center field. The 420-foot drive was Chourio's franchise-record fifth career postseason home run in his 13th playoff game, tying him with Prince Fielder and Orlando Arcia. According to MLB.com, only Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto hit five playoff homers before their 23rd birthday.

Milwaukee began its postseason run after winning a franchise-record 103 games. Misiorowski, who had a 1.80 ERA and led the majors in strikeouts and opponent batting average during the regular season, threw a 104.8 mph strike to Tatis to open the game, the fastest postseason pitch tracked since 2008. However, the Padres fouled off 30 of his 88 pitches, leading to his early exit.