Jackson Chourio says he knew the fastball was coming, and he was ready for it. With the bases loaded, two outs and Milwaukee down 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth of NLDS Game 2, Chourio ripped a two-run single up the middle off Padres closer Mason Miller to give the Brewers a 4-3 walk-off win and a 2-0 series lead, as first reported by ClutchPoints.
“I knew that he was gonna come at me with the fastball at some point,” Chourio said. “So, mentally I was just making sure that I was prepared for that.”
The IAHHM Take
This one was about patience as much as power. Miller had been dominant all season, with a 1.67 ERA and 129 strikeouts, but he lost the zone in the ninth and walked three batters before Chourio stepped in. Once a closer is behind and the bases are full, he has to throw strikes, and the hitter knows it. Chourio didn’t try to do too much. He sat on the pitch he knew was coming and put it where nobody could get it.
There’s also chatter online that Miller may have been tipping his pitches. Whether that’s true or not, the takeaway is the same: the Brewers’ young star stayed calm when the moment got huge.
Milwaukee has now won both home games in wild fashion. Game 1 had its own drama, with a ball off the roof cable that may have robbed Ty France. Now San Diego goes home needing a win to stay alive.
What’s Next
Game 3 is tonight (Tuesday) at 9:30 PM ET in San Diego, with Dustin May starting for Milwaukee against Nick Pivetta. Can Petco Park’s crowd save the Padres’ season, or do the Brewers finish this in a hurry?
Source: ClutchPoints
