Pat Murphy had a brief moment of panic before the Milwaukee Brewers could celebrate their first win of the National League Division Series. With a narrow lead over the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning, the Brewers manager watched Ty France send a deep fly ball toward the outfield and feared the worst.
Milwaukee entered the final inning protecting a 3-2 advantage at American Family Field. One swing could have changed the entire game, and France came close to delivering a dramatic turnaround for San Diego.
Instead, the ball stayed in the park. Jackson Chourio made the catch to record the final out, allowing the Brewers to escape with a 3-2 victory and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Murphy’s postgame reaction captured just how close the moment felt from the dugout.
“Ueck put his hand on it and swatted it down”, Murphy said.
It was an understandable reaction. A potential game-winning home run in the opening game of a postseason series would have completely shifted the pressure onto Milwaukee. Instead, the Brewers survived a tense finish and gave themselves an early advantage.
France’s final swing also showed how quickly a game can turn in October. The Padres were one well-struck ball away from stealing the opener on the road, but Chourio’s catch preserved Milwaukee’s lead.
For the Brewers, the win was an important first step after a strong regular season. Milwaukee finished with 103 victories and earned the National League’s top seed, but the postseason offers little room to relax. Even a single late-inning scare can make a favorite look vulnerable.
David Frerker-Imagn Images
The Padres, meanwhile, have little time to dwell on the missed opportunity. They will look to respond in Game 2 and avoid heading home with a two-game deficit.
Murphy can certainly appreciate the result. His brief scare ended with a celebration, but the final play was a reminder that a comfortable lead in October can disappear with one swing.
