Padres Fall to Brewers in NLDS Game 2 After Closer's Ninth-Inning Collapse

The San Diego Padres lost a late lead and fell to the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in Game 2 of the National League Division Series, putting them in a 2-0 series hole. The loss came after closer Mason Miller struggled in the ninth inning, walking three batters to load the bases before Jackson Chourio hit a walk-off two-run single.

San Diego entered the postseason with momentum, having won 20 of their last 23 regular-season games and sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card round. However, that momentum dissipated Sunday in Milwaukee. The Padres had built an early lead with RBI plays from Ty France and Dustin Harris, but the Brewers responded with a Sal Frelick RBI single and a Padres fielding error to keep the game close.

Manager Craig Stammen called on All-Star closer Mason Miller for a six-out save. Miller pitched a clean eighth inning, but his command faltered in the ninth. "Terrible. I didn't do my job today," Miller said after the game. "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 his decision to use Miller for two innings, noting the quick pace of the eighth inning and the top of the lineup due in the ninth. "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," Stammen stated.

The Padres will now return home trailing 2-0 in the series. They must win three consecutive games to keep their season alive, starting with Game 3 on Tuesday at Petco Park.