Brewers unable to close out Padres on Tuesday
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SAN DIEGO -- When right-hander Michael King dramatically emerged from the bullpen in a darkened Petco Park to pitch in the eighth inning of Game 3 just two days after he made a five-inning start in Game 2, the San Diego Padres’ desperate determination to extend their season was clear.
The relentless Milwaukee Brewers are making that job awfully difficult -- but after three scintillating, one-run playoff games packed with pressure moments, extraordinary plays and hero turns in this NL Division Series, the Padres are still fighting for at least another day.
Jake Cronenworth hit a tiebreaking homer, King pitched the final two innings on one day of rest and the Padres avoided playoff elimination with a 4-3 victory Tuesday night, trimming Milwaukee’s lead in the best-of-five series to 2-1.
Game 4 was set for Wednedsay night back at Petco Park, and if Game 5 is needed, it will be played in Milwaukee on Friday.
“It feels like we’ve played three straight games against the Brewers like that,” San Diego manager Craig Stammen said. “We finally were able to come out on the right end of things in this one. A lot of big effort from a lot of guys during the game to get us to the final score.”
Xander Bogaerts scored San Diego’s fourth run on a hustle play in the sixth and then capped his team’s stellar defensive performance with a game-ending double play at shortstop for the Padres, who hung on in a nail-biter over the MLB-best Brewers. This is the first playoff series since the 2021 National League Championship Series to begin with three straight one-run decisions.
“Can’t do much about the first two games, but all three games have been really good baseball,” Bogaerts said. “Once tomorrow comes, let’s go for it, but right now let’s enjoy this one, because this was a really good one.”
Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado drove in early runs for the Padres, but their bullpen didn’t have star closer Mason Miller, who went on the paternity list about 45 minutes before the first pitch. San Diego also didn’t have top setup man Adrian Morejon, who has shoulder “stickiness,” according to Stammen.
Coming up short
William Contreras homered and had three hits for the Brewers, who lost their 12th consecutive postseason road game dating to the 2018 NLCS.
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The Milwaukee Brewers’ Cooper Pratt, right, is congratulated by teammate William Contreras after scoring during the fifth inning in Game 3 of a National League Division Series against the Padres on Tuesday in San Diego. (AP photo)
“That’s part of baseball,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said. “When you’re facing a good team with a good pitching staff, that’s part of it. We didn’t get the big hit at the big time, but do you fault Yelly for hitting one 107 there and Bogaerts making a great play? They’ve got a great team, and they played great defense tonight.”