The Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> are heading back to the NLCS after an exciting 3\u20131 win over the host San Diego Padres<\/a> in Game Four of the NLDS.<\/p>\n Garrett Mitchell<\/a><\/strong> went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI, a run scored, and a key home run robbery to lead the Brewers to victory.<\/p>\n Brewers starter Robert Gasser<\/a><\/strong> was effective in his short (four innings) start, allowing one run on three hits. He and relievers Aaron Ashby<\/a><\/strong>, Abner Uribe<\/a><\/strong>, and Trevor Megill<\/a><\/strong> combined to hold the Padres hitless after a leadoff home run in the bottom of the third.<\/p>\n The Brewers took a 1\u20130 lead in the top of the third on an RBI single by Mitchell off Padres starter Walker Buehler<\/a><\/strong>. In the bottom of that inning, Fernando Tatis Jr.<\/a><\/strong> hit a first-pitch ICBM to dead center, tying the game. A leadoff triple by Mitchell in the fifth off reliever Robbie Ray<\/a><\/strong>, followed by a one-out single by Jackson Chourio<\/a><\/strong>, gave the Brewers a 2\u20131 lead. One inning later, it became a 3\u20131 game on a Sal Frelick<\/a><\/strong> sacrifice fly to left off Jason Adam<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n Brewers starter Robert Gasser, along with relievers Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill, combined to shut the Padres down after the Tatis home run. It was not without drama, though. In the bottom of the eighth, after a leadoff walk by Tatis, Manny Machado<\/a><\/strong> belted a long fly toward the \u201c396\u201d sign to the right of center field. Mitchell tracked it to the wall, leapt, and snatched it out of the crowd for a home-run robbery that deflated the crowd and energized the visiting dugout.<\/p>\n When pinch-hitter Gavin Sheets<\/a><\/strong>, in the bottom of the ninth, swung and missed chasing a Megill knuckle-curve that fell off a table, the Brewers had booked a duel with the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> in their second straight NLCS.<\/p>\n Gasser, Ashby, Uribe, and Megill only allowed three baserunners after the Tatis homer, and all reached via walk. They combined to strike out six.<\/p>\n Gasser also got out of a bases-loaded, two-out jam in the first after allowing two hits and a walk. He induced a popup to first by Xander Bogaerts<\/a><\/strong> to escape.<\/p>\n No, this isn\u2019t a law firm or maker of fine collectibles. Center fielder Garrett Mitchell and first baseman Jake Bauers<\/a><\/strong> performed both offensively and defensively. Mitchell\u2019s batting line and defensive robbery were mentioned earlier. Bauers reached base in every plate appearance, going 1-for-1 with a single, three walks, and a run scored. Turang went 1-for-5, but where he shone was defensively. He was the pivot-and-relay man on a double play that ended the sixth. Additionally, he made a fantastic running catch on a Ty France<\/a><\/strong> foul popup behind first one batter after the Mitchell robbery. On that play, he lunged around Bauers, who ducked out of the way after Turang called him off.<\/p>\n Contreras went 2-for-5 in Game Four. In the series, he went 6-for-16 with two homers, two RBI, two walks, and three runs scored. His first homer gave the Brewers the go-ahead run in Game One, making the score 3\u20132.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was probably the MVP of the series,\u201d Padres manager Craig Stammen<\/a><\/strong> said. \u201cWhat he did behind the plate, being able to throw some runners out. What he did at the plate, every time was a tough at-bat. I don’t know what he finished with his batting average, but it felt like he got a hit almost every time he was at the bat. He had the big home run in Game 1. He had a great series. He’s a great player. Not surprised by that.\u201d<\/p>\n In the first inning \u2014 with one out, Jackson Merrill<\/a><\/strong> on second, and Manny Machado on first \u2014 Ty France hit a grounder to Joey Ortiz<\/a><\/strong> near the third-base bag. Ortiz stepped on third and inexplicably didn\u2019t throw to first to complete the double play. Replays showed that an accurate throw at average speed (for a major-league infielder) would have doubled up France. Gasser ended up walking the next hitter \u2014 Austin Hays<\/a><\/strong> \u2014 to load the bases. As mentioned earlier, Gasser escaped by inducing an inning-ending popup from Game Three hero Xander Bogaerts.<\/p>\n Shortstop Cooper Pratt<\/a><\/strong> also committed a fielding error on a sharp grounder in the fourth. This allowed Luis Campusano<\/a><\/strong> to reach with two outs. However, Gasser struck out Jake Cronenworth<\/a><\/strong>, up next, to render the error moot.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t cost the Brewers the game, but they went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Consequently, they left ten men on base. Five were in scoring position. They left runners on first and second in both the fourth and fifth, a runner on second in the sixth, and the bases loaded in the seventh.<\/p>\n Tatis, Merrill, and Machado each had a hit. Tatis, with his homer, also had the only Padres extra-base hit and RBI. Additionally, Machado hit what would have been a game-tying homer had Mitchell not made his leaping catch.<\/p>\n As mentioned before, the Padres loaded the bases in the first but came up empty.<\/p>\n The first inning was the only time all evening that the Padres had a runner in scoring position. And as mentioned earlier, after the Tatis solo homer, the Padres did not even manage a hit.<\/p>\n \u201cIt starts tomorrow. Tonight’s about us. But tomorrow we’re making a plan and trying to execute. (We\u2019re trying to) figure out how to get two wins at home then head over to L.A. and take care of business there. We’ve played them well this year. We saw them last year in the NLCS, but we’ve got all hands on deck and are ready to go.\u201d \u2014 Brewers starting pitcher Robert Gasser on when they\u2019ll start thinking about the Dodgers<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe Padres were great. The Padres, they’re a great team. They could have won it all, but that’s the postseason. The ball doesn’t bounce your way, Uecker doesn\u2019t knock that ball down out of the rafters, and it’s a different series. Chourio gets the hit off Miller, and it’s a different series. Believe me, that team right there can beat anybody in baseball. I’m grateful we got through.\u201d \u2014 Brewers manager Pat Murphy<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u201cEvery baseball season ends very abruptly when you’re in the playoffs, sooner than you want typically. Only one team gets to win it in the end. Unfortunately, this year it wasn’t our chance.\u201d \u2014 Padres manager Craig Stammen<\/em><\/p>\n This was the Brewers\u2019 first road playoff win as a franchise since Game Three of the 2018 NLCS. The opposing starting pitcher in that game was also Walker Buehler.<\/p>\n The home run robbery was remarkably similar to another famous robbery in Petco Park. During the second round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Team USA center fielder Adam Jones<\/a><\/strong> made a leaping catch to rob a homer against the Dominican Republic. The play happened in nearly the exact same spot as the Mitchell catch Wednesday night. The player who hit the WBC fly ball? Manny Machado.<\/p>\n The Brewers only struck out three times all game. It took until the second out in the seventh inning for the first one to happen.<\/p>\n Aaron Ashby earned the win as Robbie Ray took the loss, both in relief. Megill notched the save.<\/p>\n The Padres are done for the 2026 season, but the Brewers will face the Dodgers \u2014 winners of the other NLDS after a 4\u20131 win over the Atlanta Braves<\/a> \u2014 in the NLCS. Game One will be Sunday at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Pitchers for both teams, as well as the time of the first pitch, had yet to be formally announced at press time.<\/p>\nBrewers \u2013 Padres Game Summary<\/h3>\n
What Went Right for the Brewers<\/h3>\n
Pitching<\/h4>\n
Mitchell, Bauers, and Turang<\/h4>\n
Contreras<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for the Brewers<\/h3>\n
Minor Defensive Miscues<\/h4>\n
Missed Opportunities<\/h4>\n
What Went Right for the Padres<\/h3>\n
The Top of the Order<\/h4>\n
What Went Wrong for the Padres<\/h3>\n
Couldn\u2019t Cash In<\/h4>\n
No Solution for Brewers Pitching<\/h4>\n
Quotes<\/h3>\n
Quick Hits<\/h3>\n
Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n
Main Photo:<\/h4>\n