Chourio's ninth-inning single lifts Brewers past Padres for 2-0 NLDS lead

Jackson Chourio's ninth-inning single capped a Milwaukee rally against Mason Miller, sending San Diego home down 2-0 in the NLDS.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored twice in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Sunday in Game 2 of the National League Division Series at American Family Field. The late rally gave Milwaukee a 2-0 lead in the five-game series and sent the Padres home facing an elimination game.

San Diego closer Mason Miller had been asked to record six outs, and despite an uneven outing he got through the eighth inning protecting a 3-2 lead. He opened the ninth with a groundout, then walked Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick. Andrew Vaughn flied out to bring San Diego within one out of a 1-1 series, but pinch-hitter Gary Sanchez drew a third walk to load the bases.

That set the stage for Jackson Chourio, who won a six-pitch battle by singling off a 101 mph four-seam fastball. The ball got past a diving Jake Cronenworth at second base and rolled to center fielder Jackson Merrill. Yelich scored easily from third, and Frelick raced home ahead of Merrill's throw to catcher Freddy Fermin, sealing the 4-3 final.

It was the second time in the series that a top San Diego reliever lost a lead late. In Friday's opener, Adrian Morejon allowed a solo home run to William Contreras in the seventh inning, and that blow decided a one-run game. Ty France appeared to have a go-ahead homer for the Padres in that one, but the ball struck a truss above the field and was caught by Chourio.

After that defeat, San Diego needed a split in Milwaukee, and Michael King gave the Padres a chance. The right-hander worked five-plus innings, giving up one run on three hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Yuki Matsui followed with 1.1 innings and one run allowed, and Bradgley Rodriguez added 0.2 scoreless innings.

The offense provided little support. San Diego finished with five hits, two of them from France and one apiece from Merrill, Luis Campusano and Samad Taylor. The Padres went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position, stranded eight baserunners, and scored two unearned runs on the back of three Milwaukee fielding errors.

The teams are off Monday before the series resumes at Petco Park for Game 3 on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. San Diego, whose season will end with another loss, will hand the start to Nick Pivetta as it tries to extend the series in front of its home fans. Trailing 2-0, the Padres would need three straight wins to advance.

Elsewhere in the Major League Baseball postseason, the Atlanta Braves beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to even their series. Monday's schedule also brings Game 2 between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians, plus Game 2 between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays.