Padres fireball closer Miller thinks he beat himself, Brewers star Jolio hits a walk-off hit
Quick Look
- In the second game of the National League Division Series, Miller, the Padres' fireball terminator, missed three walks with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, and was hit by the Brewers' 22-year-old rising star Jolio.
- The Padres lost 3-4, and the series fell to 0 wins and 2 losses.
- Miller admitted after the game that he had beaten himself.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The National League Division Series adopts a best-of-five series. The Padres and Brewers will play the second game. Miller is the Padres' key relief pitcher. His ERA in this postseason was previously 6.75.
Padres Fireball Terminator Miller. (AFP)
[Sports Center/Comprehensive Report] In the best-of-five National League Division Series G2, Padres fireball stopper Mason Miller was hit by Brewers 22-year-old star Jackson Chourio with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the 9th inning today. The Padres lost 3-4, and the series fell into an absolute disadvantage of 0 wins and 2 losses. Miller admitted that he defeated himself in this game.
In this game, Miller went to work early when he was leading by 1 point in the 8th inning. He allowed his opponent 3 ups and 3 downs first, but in the 9th inning he mishandled the ball and walked 3 times. Facing Jolio at the critical moment, although he threw the fastest 103.5 miles (about 166.5 kilometers) in the game, he was still hit out of bounds by his opponent. Finally, Miller threw a 101.3 miles (about 163 kilometers) fast ball and was hit by a bye, putting the Padres on the verge of elimination.
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Miller pitched 40 pitches in 1.2 innings this time, allowed 1 hit, gave up 3 walks, allowed 2 runs, struck out 2 times, and won a key defeat. This year's playoff ERA was 6.75.
As for why Miller was allowed to come on the board early in the 8th inning, Padres head coach Craig Stammen explained that at the end of the 8th inning, he was facing the Brewers' front line, so Miller was allowed to come on.
"I think before the game, I was considering letting Mason get six outs, especially since he handled it so quickly in the eighth inning." Steinman also said, "He was fighting against his strike zone in the final stage."
Miller admitted in an interview after the game that he was not satisfied with his performance, "It's terrible, I didn't do my job today. The basic principle is that you can't beat yourself, and I beat myself today. I mean, getting a hit with no one on base will not let them win the game. But getting a hit after you throw the bases loaded and walked, that will happen."
Open Questions
- Will Miller take on a key backup role again in subsequent series?
- Will the Padres adjust their pitching strategy to avoid similar mistakes?
