Padres Rally in 11th to Edge Brewers 4‑3
SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The San Diego Padres scored two runs in the bottom of the 11th inning to rally past the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 on Wednesday afternoon at PETCO Park, completing a three-game sweep.
San Diego improved to 65-57 while the Brewers dropped to 75-47. The game lasted 3:46 and drew an announced attendance of 36,072.
Adrian Morejon earned the victory, allowing two hits and striking out four over two scoreless innings. Antonio Senzatela took the loss for Milwaukee.
The Brewers struck first in the second inning. Gary Sánchez hit a solo home run to left field, his 10th of the season, to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead. Starter Robbie Ray kept San Diego within reach, though he allowed a second run in the third. Joey Ortiz walked and scored when Brice Turang singled to center and the ball was misplayed by Jackson Merrill, allowing Turang to advance to third. Milwaukee led 2-0.
San Diego answered in the bottom of the third. Xander Bogaerts homered to left, his 10th of the season, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Milwaukee starter Dustin May was effective after that. He completed seven innings, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out six. Ray finished four innings, surrendering two earned runs on two hits and striking out four.
The Brewers threatened in the fourth inning when Jake Bauers and William Contreras drew consecutive walks to open the frame, but Sánchez, Brandon Lockridge and David Hamilton could not bring them home. San Diego grounded into its first of four double plays in the bottom half, erasing a walk to Jake Cronenworth when Ty France singled and Jackson Merrill reached on a fielder’s choice error by Hamilton. Austin Hays grounded into a third-to-second-to-first double play to end the inning.
Milwaukee had another scoring chance in the fifth when Joey Ortiz singled to lead off, but the next three batters were retired. Both starting pitchers left with the score still 2-1.
Ray was replaced by Kyle Hart, who tossed a scoreless fifth inning. Hart also worked the sixth, striking out two. Milwaukee’s May was replaced by Trevor Megill for the eighth inning.
San Diego finally broke through in the eighth. With one out, Gavin Sheets walked and Bogaerts grounded into a double play. But Fernando Tatis Jr. then walked and Luis Rengifo walked. Jake Cronenworth singled to first base, scoring Tatis and sending Rengifo to second. The game was tied 2-2. Manny Machado grounded out to end the inning.
The Brewers put runners on base in the ninth after walks by Hamilton and Ortiz, but Jackson Chourio flew out to right and Turang struck out swinging. The game went to extra innings.
Jeremiah Estrada and Mason Miller each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for San Diego, combining for two strikeouts. Megill gave Milwaukee a scoreless bottom of the ninth and then stayed on for the 10th.
In the top of the 10th, the Brewers went quietly. Luis Lara struck out, Jake Bauers singled, and Contreras flew out to center. San Diego had a chance to win in the bottom of the 10th when Fernando Tatis Jr. was intentionally walked and Luis Rengifo reached on a fielder’s choice, but Cronenworth flew out to center, sending the game to the 11th.
Milwaukee took the lead in the top of the 11th. Jihwan Bae reached base and scored when Sánchez doubled sharply to left field. Sánchez’s double was his eighth of the season and gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead. Garrett Mitchell walked, but Hamilton, Ortiz and Turang all struck out, leaving two runners on base.
Morejon worked out of the inning and gave San Diego a chance in the bottom half. Jake Cronenworth reached base and advanced to third on Machado’s groundout to shortstop. Ty France was hit by a pitch, putting runners on the corners. Jackson Merrill then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Cronenworth to score the tying run. Luis Campusano followed with a line-drive single to right, scoring Sung-Mun Song and ending the game.
Sánchez finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs. Bogaerts went 1-for-4 with a home run. Cronenworth had a hit and the game-tying RBI. Campusano provided the walk-off hit.
San Diego grounded into four double plays but still managed to outlast Milwaukee. The Padres also received strong relief from Bradgley Rodriguez, who allowed one hit and struck out three over two innings. Robbie Ray, Kyle Hart, Jeremiah Estrada, Mason Miller and Morejon combined to keep the Brewers from scoring after the third inning.
Milwaukee’s Dustin May turned in a quality start, but the bullpen could not hold the lead. Antonio Senzatela was charged with the loss after allowing the decisive runs in the 11th.
The Brewers had won five of their previous six games entering the series but were swept in San Diego. The Padres, meanwhile, have won five straight and remain in the thick of the National League wild-card race.
The game also featured several replay reviews, including two overturned strike calls against Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio and one against teammate Andrew Vaughn. Both challenges were on pitch results and did not change the outcome.
Milwaukee’s next game is Thursday at the Los Angeles Dodgers, while San Diego travels to Cleveland for a Friday matchup with the Guardians.
Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Milwaukee 7, San Diego 6, and Interstat’s ELO system had given Milwaukee a 52.70 percent probability to win. Milwaukee was installed as a favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The over/under line was set at 8, and the combined total of 7 went over that line.