SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres concluded the regular season with a surge that seemed to signal they were on the cusp of something special. Yet, on Wednesday night, the harsh reality of October set in, reminding everyone that postseason success doesn’t hinge on past performances.
The Milwaukee Brewers quieted the cheers at Petco Park, stifling the Padres’ offense during a decisive Game 4 of the National League Division Series, which resulted in a 3-1 win to send Milwaukee to the NL Championship Series for the second year in a row.
For the Padres, this latest defeat feels like yet another premature farewell for their October hopes. Meanwhile, for the Brewers, the victory is just a prelude to their upcoming rematch with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With the best regular-season record in baseball, the Brewers are now set to face the two-time reigning champs in a repeat of last year’s NLCS.
Before Milwaukee could secure its path back to the championship series, they had to snuff out any lingering hopes San Diego had.
That hope was ignited in the third inning by Fernando Tatis Jr.
As the Padres found themselves down 1-0, Tatis smashed a solo home run off Brewers pitcher Robert Gasser, igniting a frenzy among the 47,712 fans at Petco Park. His exuberant bat flip seemed to symbolize not just the home run, but a collective yearning for postseason success.
For a brief moment, it felt like the Padres were alive again, but sadly, that was the last glimmer of joy for the night as their offense fell silent for the rest of the game.
Walker Buehler made his postseason return, having previously closed out the 2024 World Series. He started off strong with a six-pitch first inning. However, Milwaukee drew first blood when Sal Frelick got a hit, stole second, and was plated by Garrett Mitchell’s single.
It was the first time in this series that the Brewers scored first, which was troubling for a Padres team already on the edge of elimination.
Buehler managed to pitch into the fourth inning before yielding a leadoff single to William Contreras. Padres manager Craig Stammen opted to replace Buehler with Robbie Ray, bringing in a fresh arm with left-handed batters on deck for Milwaukee.
This strategy gave the team a brief respite, though it didn’t offer a lasting solution.
In the fifth, Mitchell’s triple down the right-field line put the potential go-ahead run just 90 feet away. Jackson Chourio followed with a single that put Milwaukee ahead 2-1, a lead they would maintain.
The Brewers extended their lead in the sixth after Jake Bauers’ single and Cooper Pratt’s ground-rule double that bounced off a building. Frelick then hit a sacrifice fly, making it 3-1.
That was all Milwaukee needed as their bullpen — featuring Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill — delivered five scoreless innings, turning the remainder of the game into a slow and painful countdown for the Padres’ postseason hopes.
The situation turned even more dire when Manny Machado appeared to have hit a game-tying homer in the eighth, only for Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell to leap and snatch the ball from over the wall, preserving Milwaukee’s lead.
The Padres showcased talent, star power, and believed this was finally their moment to end a long championship drought. Yet, when the stakes were highest, the bats failed to deliver.
San Diego’s pitching offered a chance, but the hitters couldn’t translate that into runs when it mattered most.
This series loss wasn’t due to a lack of talent, but rather an inability to convert their potential into crucial runs.
Yet again, a promising season fizzled out in disappointment.
What it means
The Brewers’ win solidifies their remarkable 103-win season and sets them back on the path to the NLCS, where they have unfinished business with the Dodgers.
For the Padres, this defeat raises lingering doubts about their championship aspirations that seem to close just when they appear within reach.
Despite being the hottest team in baseball during parts of August and September, October seems to be their greatest nemesis.
San Diego still seeks its first World Series title, and another year has ended with the same sense of unfulfilled promise.
Turning point
Garrett Mitchell’s leadoff triple in the fifth inning proved crucial.
Tied at 1-1, his hit down the right-field line off Robbie Ray paved the way for Jackson Chourio’s go-ahead single, ultimately sucking the energy right out of Petco Park.
Did you see that?
What a bat flip!
Fernando Tatis Jr. didn’t simply admire his third-inning homer; he celebrated it with a flourish that could belong on a highlight reel.
But, sadly for San Diego, that moment of joy turned out to be a fleeting one.
Up next
Hollywood is set for a sequel.
The Brewers and Dodgers will clash in the NLCS once more after Los Angeles swept Milwaukee last October.
While much of the cast remains, both teams come with new rotations and some fresh faces.
Milwaukee heads in with the best record in baseball, while Los Angeles boasts the last two World Series trophies.
This time, the Brewers aim to dethrone the defending champions and stop the Dodgers from being the first team in the National League to win three consecutive titles.
And for the Padres? It’s another October spent watching others chase the championship they had hoped would finally be theirs.
