Holy smokes, what a gut punch. The San Diego Padres just took a heartbreaking loss in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, and it all came down to a ninth-inning moonshot from Ty France that should’ve been the go-ahead homer. Instead, the ball smacked the roof at American Family Field and fell straight down, landing right in Jackson Chourio’s glove for an out. You just know that ball was outta here if not for the roof, but the official call stands: out. Talk about a brutal way to kick off a series.
Offense Left on Base and Swinging at Air
Look, it wasn’t all bad in the beginning. The Padres offense actually got to Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, tagging him for two runs before Milwaukee pulled him in the fourth. That’s a positive, right? But then things just spiraled. The bats went cold, and the at-bats got progressively worse as the game wore on. We’re talking Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, two of your biggest stars, both striking out on three pitches in huge spots. That can’t happen when the stakes are this high.
The numbers don’t lie, either. San Diego left a staggering 12 runners on base and went a dismal 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. You just can’t win a postseason game, let alone a Division Series opener, with that kind of production. They absolutely regressed from how they looked in the Wild Card series, and it cost them big time.
King on the Mound, Pressure on the Padres
Now, Game 2 is today, and the Padres have to turn it around immediately. They’re sending Michael King to the mound, and he’s got to be dialed in. This is his second postseason start, and everyone remembers his gem against the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the Wild Card series. He took a no-hitter into the seventh against a potent offense that night. He needs to bring that same energy. King faced the Brewers once this season back on May 13, going 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball against Misiorowski.
The pressure on King to deliver six quality innings is immense, and honestly, if he can do it, it’ll be a huge sigh of relief for San Diego. They’ll be up against Logan Henderson, a right-hander for the Brewers who’s been on fire, posting a 2.47 ERA in 18 starts this season, with an even better 1.93 ERA in his final seven starts. He’s never faced the Padres, which could give him an edge with that devastating four-seamer and changeup combo. The Padres’ lineup, including guys like Ty France, Tatis Jr., and Machado, needs to show some serious plate discipline and stop trying to play the hero ball.
The Friars have to wake up this afternoon if they have any hope of evening this Division Series in Milwaukee. There’s also the question of Gavin Sheets, who’s been dealing with a foot injury, but with his potent bat left on the bench in Game 1 and the team struggling, you’d think they turn to him in such a crucial moment. Plus, after expending a lot of high-leverage relievers yesterday, they’ll need King to go deep.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply