Padres suffer another brutal NLDS loss as Mason Miller blows save

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Mason Miller. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Padres suffer another brutal NLDS loss as Mason Miller blows save

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Oct 4, 2026 8:01 PM ET

It is hard to imagine the first two games of the NLDS going worse for the San Diego Padres.

After suffering a bizarre Game 1 loss that was highlighted by a potential go-ahead home run hitting off the roof of American Family Field and turning into an out, something almost equally unbelievable happened on Sunday.

Mason Miller, the game's best closer, blew a save in a 4-3 Game 2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Brewers take 2-0 series lead by beating Mason Miller

The Padres went into the bottom of the ninth in what should have been a great situation with the lead and Miller on the mound hoping to secure a six-out save.

But after the Brewers were able to load the bases with two outs, Jackson Chourio came through with a two-run RBI single to give them a commanding 2-0 series lead as it shifts back to San Diego this week.

JACKSON CHOURIO IS THE WALK-OFF HERO IN GAME 2! pic.twitter.com/mZVRRVd4Xv
— MLB (@MLB) October 4, 2026

Not only were the Padres one out away, they were one strike away.

With one of the game's best strikeout pitchers on the mound.

Miller blew only three saves during the entire regular season and has blown just 10 during his entire career. When he enters the game in these situations, it is almost automatic that his team is going to win.

But sometimes the other team's best player simply beats your best player.

That happened here.

It can also not be overlooked that Miller was trying to go two full innings and threw 40 pitches, which is more than his normal outing. Miller threw more than 31 pitches just one time during the entire regular season, and never more than 34 pitches.

Did that play a role? Was it just a one-off thing? It doesn't really matter in the end, because that is the pitcher the Padres wanted on the mound, and should have had on the mound. It just did not work.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on X @AGretz

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