Contreras’ homer and late escapes lift Brewers past Padres 3–2

William Contreras broke a seventh-inning tie with a solo home run, and the Brewers survived repeated late threats to beat the Padres 3–2 Saturday in Game 1 of the National League Division Series at American Family Field. Milwaukee took a 1–0 lead in the best-of-five series after Jackson Chourio’s two-run homer had erased an early deficit.

The game ended with San Diego again threatening. Dustin Harris singled to open the ninth against Trevor Megill, and Manny Machado struck out. Ty France then hit a high fly that struck the roof before Chourio caught it in left field. The Padres challenged whether the ball was fair or foul, but the call stood, and Jackson Merrill lined to right for the final out.

The Associated Press reported that the stadium’s ground rules allow a ball striking the roof in fair territory to be caught for an out. That made France’s unusual fly the second out rather than a new opportunity for San Diego to continue the at-bat.

Milwaukee had needed its bullpen well before that finish. Jacob Misiorowski opened his first playoff start with a 104.8 mph strike, the fastest postseason pitch since tracking began in 2008, according to MLB’s report. He struck out six over four innings, but San Diego made him throw 88 pitches and scored twice in the second.

Xander Bogaerts, Ethan Salas and Luis Campusano hit consecutive one-out singles in that inning. Campusano drove in Bogaerts, and Salas scored when Jake Cronenworth reached on a fielder’s choice. Misiorowski limited the damage by getting Machado to ground out with the bases loaded.

Chourio answered in the third. Garrett Mitchell was aboard when Chourio homered to left-center against Robbie Ray, tying the score at 2–2. Ray finished with two runs allowed over 2 2/3 innings, and Bradgley Rodriguez stranded three inherited runners to keep Milwaukee from adding more in that frame.

The tie held until Contreras came up with two outs in the seventh against Adrian Morejon. His homer gave Milwaukee its first lead after the Brewers had escaped a bases-loaded threat in the top half. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Machado singled, France was hit by a pitch, and DL Hall retired Merrill on a fly to left to strand all three.

San Diego put two more runners aboard in the eighth on walks to Bogaerts and Campusano. Austin Hays flew to right, advancing pinch-runner Samad Taylor to third. Megill entered with runners at the corners and struck out Tatis to preserve the lead, then returned for the ninth and earned the save.

The Padres finished with nine hits to Milwaukee’s seven. Harris and Machado each had two hits, while Merrill went 0 for 5. Hall received the win, and Megill recorded four outs with two strikeouts across 17 pitches.

Game 2 follows Sunday at 4 p.m. Eastern in Milwaukee. The Brewers enter it ahead after two home runs supplied their offense and their relievers kept San Diego scoreless for the final five innings.