San Diego continued its postseason surge on Tuesday night as the Padres avoided elimination by defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. The win, highlighted by Jake Cronenworth’s decisive home run, gave San Diego a 2-1 series lead and set the stage for a pivotal Game 4 at Petco Park.
Key moments
Early in the game, the Padres jumped ahead thanks to RBI hits from Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado. Their offense established a lead that the Brewers struggled to overcome. Milwaukee’s response came from catcher William Contreras, who homered and collected three hits, but the Padres’ bullpen held firm.
Relief pitcher Michael King, who had started Game 2 just two days earlier, entered the contest on one day of rest to close out the final two innings. King retired four of his first five batters and, after a brief ninth‑inning scare, secured his first postseason save and his first save since 2023.
Defining play
The game’s turning point arrived in the ninth inning. After Contreras and Brice Turang reached base on walks, Christian Yelich launched a 107‑mph line drive up the middle. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts dove to his knees, fielded the ball on a short hop, and made a lightning‑quick throw to first base, retiring Yelich and ending the inning.
Following the defensive heroics, Cronenworth stepped to the plate with the game tied. He delivered a tiebreaking home run that put the Padres ahead for good, sealing the 4-3 victory.
Series outlook
With the series now at 2-1, the Padres will host Game 4 on Wednesday night at Petco Park. If the series extends, Game 5 is scheduled to return to Milwaukee on Friday. Neither club has announced its starter for the upcoming game.
The Brewers’ loss extended their postseason road streak to 12 consecutive defeats, a run that began during the 2018 National League Championship Series. Despite Yelich’s first playoff RBI since 2018, Milwaukee never led after the early innings and left 11 runners on base.
Looking ahead
San Diego’s victory underscores the resilience of a team that has navigated injuries and roster adjustments throughout the season. With star closer Mason Miller on the paternity list, the Padres have relied on depth and timely contributions from both veterans and younger players.
As the series progresses, the Padres will aim to capitalize on their home‑field advantage, while the Brewers will look to rebound and close the gap before heading back to Wisconsin for a potential decisive Game 5.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
