Jackson Chourio delivered one of the biggest hits of the Milwaukee Brewers’ postseason run Sunday, driving in two runs with a walk-off single against San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller.
The Brewers trailed 3-2 entering the bottom of the ninth before loading the bases. Chourio stepped in with the game on the line and eventually delivered the hit that gave Milwaukee a 4-3 victory and a 2-0 NLDS lead.
After the game, Chourio explained that his approach was centered on being ready for Miller’s fastball. He believed the Padres closer would eventually challenge him with his best pitch.
“Watching those at-bats, I knew he was a little bit erratic,” Chourio said. “I knew he was going to come at me with the fastball at some point, so mentally I was just making sure that I was prepared for that.”
That preparation proved crucial in an at-bat against one of baseball’s most overpowering relievers. Chourio stayed alive through the high-velocity sequence before getting the pitch he was expecting.
Instead of trying to do too much, the young outfielder trusted his plan and delivered when Milwaukee needed it most. The result sent Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick home and sparked another dramatic postseason celebration at American Family Field.
Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
The victory gave the Brewers a commanding 2-0 series advantage and put them one win away from advancing. Chourio’s performance also added another memorable moment to the postseason résumé of one of Milwaukee’s most important young players.
The Brewers will now head to San Diego with an opportunity to finish the series. For Chourio, the challenge will be different, but his message after the win was clear: Milwaukee is not backing down from the biggest moments.
