The Milwaukee Brewers extended their MLB record for consecutive postseason road losses to 12 after falling 4-3 to the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday night at Petco Park. Despite earning the best record in the majors this season at 103-59 and holding a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, the Brewers could not close out the Padres on the road.
Milwaukee stranded 11 runners over the course of the game, outhitting San Diego 11-6 but failing to deliver the decisive blow. The sellout crowd of 47,708, the third-largest in Petco Park history, watched as the Brewers’ chances slipped away late. In the ninth inning, with runners on first and second and one out, Brewers captain Christian Yelich hit a 107 mph ball off Padres reliever Michael King, who was pitching on just one day of rest after starting Game 2. However, shortstop Xander Bogaerts turned the hit into a game-ending double play, sealing the Padres’ victory.
Yelich, who recorded his first postseason RBI since 2018 with a single in the seventh inning, acknowledged the near miss but remained focused on the team’s collective effort. “I’m just focused about trying to help the team win,” he said. He praised King’s pitching and the team’s resilience late in the game. “King made some great pitches. They got some outs in some big spots, and we put together great at-bats there in the eighth, ninth innings, and just gave ourselves a ton of chances. And we just didn’t get that one big hit.”
The Brewers’ streak of 12 straight postseason road losses ties the major league record previously set by the Washington Senators/Minnesota Twins franchise from 1925 to 1987. Milwaukee’s overall postseason road record now stands at 6-24, the worst in MLB history. The team’s manager, Pat Murphy, offered context for the streak, noting the quality of opponents faced during these road games. “It’s tough to win on the road in playoff situations, obviously. We’ve done a pretty good job at home, I’d say, but you’re right. It’s never fun. We lost to the Nationals, right? You’re going back to the Nationals. They won the World Series,” he said, referring to the 2019 postseason.
Murphy also recalled losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and the Atlanta Braves, both of whom went on to win or reach the World Series. “Dodgers did pretty good that year, too. They won the World Series, right? They went to the World Series, right? Who else did we lose to, the Braves? They won it. Those are some pretty good teams. I wouldn’t beat up the old Brewers if you don’t mind. I know you’re looking to. That’s fun.”
Second baseman Brice Turang reflected on the atmosphere at Petco Park and the competitive spirit in the clubhouse. “It’s like 40 of us vs. 50,000, but it’s fun, man. It’s fun to play like this and this is what we play for. We play for times like this.” Turang emphasized the quality of the team’s at-bats despite the loss. “If you watch the games, just the quality of at-bats. I keep saying it, but it’s true. I think these guys have had something to work off of and something to keep pushing forward. The competitiveness that this clubhouse has is great. You just take the positives after tonight and you go try to win tomorrow.”
Yelich dismissed any notion that the extended losing streak weighs heavily on the current team, pointing out that only one player remains from the 2018 squad. “Not really. I mean, this team has one person playing from 2018, so that’s really no effect on this group.”
With the series still alive, the Brewers will have another opportunity to clinch the NLDS on Wednesday night back at American Family Field. The Padres will look to even the series in front of their home crowd once again.
According to Yahoo Sports.
