Milwaukee worked three walks against the Padres closer in the ninth inning before Jackson Chourio called game

Oct 4, 2026 at 7:37 pm ET • 2 min read

The 2026 MLB postseason continues Sunday with Game 2 of the National League Division Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers emerged victorious Saturday in Game 1 over the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres, respectively, and will look to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five Division Series on Sunday.

Since the best-of-five Division Series became a thing in 1995, the team that won Game 1 has gone on to win the series 73% of the time, and 32% of the time the series ended in a sweep. Winning Game 1 doesn't guarantee a series win, but the Brewers and Dodgers are in the driver's seat at the moment. Here are the final scores and schedule for Sunday's playoff action:

  • FINAL: Brewers 4, Padres 3 (box score); Brewers lead series 2-0
  • UPCOMING: Braves at Dodgers (8 p.m. ET); Dodgers lead series 1-0

To sum up all the NLDS Game 2 action, we're here to declare a winner and loser from both games. You can find those authoritative and inarguable declarations just below.

Winner: Brewers magic

The Brewers are the best team in baseball and they showed why late

In the parlance of the late, great Mel Allen, "how about that?!?!"

The Milwaukee Brewers used a clutch home run somewhat late in Game 1 of the series to take a 1-0 lead. They now have a 2-0 lead in the series after an incredibly improbable victory in Game 2. Well, the numbers say it was improbable and the Padres had closer Mason Miller on the mound, which seemingly made it even more improbable. The 2026 Milwaukee Brewers scoff at such improbabilities. 

They worked three walks against Miller before budding young superstar Jackson Chourio came to the plate and delivered with a two-RBI, walk-off single up the middle. It was a rocket. Remember, Chourio hit a two-run, game-tying blast in Game 1. 

Loser: Mason Miller's ninth inning

Miller was asked for a rare two-inning save and it didn't work

Padres closer Mason Miller didn't have any two-inning saves in the regular season, but it's the playoffs and relievers are often asked to go a bit longer when called for. The situation called for it in Game 2, as the Padres faced a 1-0 series deficit and a few other relievers had been used heavily in Game 1. 

Miller had an easy 1-2-3 in the eighth inning. He got the first out in the ninth quickly as well. But then Christian Yelich worked a walk and stole second. Another walk followed before Miller recorded the second out. But then he walked Gary Sanchez, who was pinch-hitting in the nine-hole, to bring Chourio to the plate. 

There will now be second-guessing with the Padres' pitching plan. Michael King went five innings and had gone the first four without allowing a hit. He was removed after one hitter in the sixth. The Padres then had to stretch their bullpen after doing the same in Game 1. 

It didn't work out. Now the Padres' backs are against the wall.