4 defensive plays that prevented Brewers' NLDS sweep of Padres in Game 3

From the first batter to the final out of their NLDS Game 3 matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers, the San Diego Padres played excellent defense. In the end, that stellar defense and another uncharacteristic miscue from Milwaukee's defensive unit was the difference in Tuesday night's thrilling matchup at Petco Park. By a score of 4-3, the Padres defeated the Brewers and extended the NLDS to a Game 4, which will be played on Wednesday night.

While there were a number of at-bats that the Brewers certainly want back from their Game 3 performance against the Padres, Milwaukee still had several chances to out-score San Diego, which were ultimately blocked by incredible defensive plays. Here are four that truly changed the course of the game and prevented the Brewers from sweeping the Padres on Tuesday night.

4 defensive plays that led to the Padres' victory over the Brewers in Game 3 of the NLDS

1. Jackson Merrill's sliding catch to rob Jackson Chourio of a leadoff extra-base hit

In the first at-bat of Game 3, and Jackson Chourio's first plate appearance since his walk-off single on Sunday evening, the Brewers' star outfielder smashed a ball into the left-center field. With an exit velocity of 103.2 mph and a launch angle of 25 degrees, the ball looked destined for the gap, but Padres' center fielder Jackson Merrill ranged over and made the catch, robbing Chourio of at least a double.

A leadoff double or triple from the hero of Game 2 would have completely changed the tone of Game 3. San Diego's starter, Nick Pivetta, who did not look his sharpest on Tuesday night, would have immediately been on the ropes, and the Brewers could have jumped ahead early, rather than play from behind as they had in Games 1 and 2. However, despite Chourio's fly ball having an expected batting average of .750, Merrill made the catch, and the Brewers went down in order in the top of the first, giving the early momentum to the Padres.

2. Jackson Merrill's diving catch to rob Sal Frelick of extra bases in the 3rd

Just two innings after Merrill's sliding catch to rob Chourio of a hit, the 23-year-old center fielder did it again, only this time it was Sal Frelick who fell victim to Merrill's heroics. Leading off the top of the third inning, Frelick put a great swing on an elevated fastball from Pivetta and lined it into right-center field. However, Merrill ranged to his left this time and made a spectacular diving catch to rob Frelick of at least a leadoff double, and Pat Murphy, who was on air in a mid-game interview with Tom Verducci, voiced his displeasure.

Joey Ortiz immediately followed Frelick's at-bat with a single up the middle that would have scored the Brewers' right fielder and given Milwaukee an early lead. Instead, Ortiz was stranded on first after the next two batters were retired, and the Brewers ultimately lost by one run. While not quite as high as Chourio's, Frelick's expected batting average on the batted ball was still .540. If Merrill didn't make just one of those two improbable catches, the game could have looked rather different.

3. Xander Bogaerts diving stop to prevent Sal Frelick from scoring in the 5th

Two singles, a sacrifice bunt, and an incredible tag-up on a shallow fly ball to left field by Cooper Pratt allowed the Brewers to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. However, Milwaukee had a good opportunity to tag on at least another run and take the lead. With Frelick on second base and Jake Bauers on first, William Contreras grounded a ball to the left side that looked like it was heading for the hole between Manny Machado at third base and shortstop Xander Bogaerts. However, Bogaerts ranged to his right and made a diving stop to prevent the ball from going into the outfield. Contreras was safe at first with an infield single, but Frelick was prevented from scoring the go-ahead run.

With the bases loaded, the next batter, Brice Turang, bounced into a force out, and Padres' reliever Yuki Matsui escaped the jam. Once again, had the ball snuck through to the outfield and Frelick come around to score, the Brewers' one-run loss to the Padres could have looked a lot different, especially considering Milwaukee had the bullpen advantage in the event of extra innings.

4. Xander Bogaerts' game-ending double play

Despite the many times the Brewers were robbed throughout the game, and the several scoring opportunities they wasted, Pat Murphy's squad still had a chance to win in the final inning of Game 3. Trailing by one run with Game 1 starter Michael King on the bump, Contreras and Turang each drew one-out walks to put a runner in scoring position for Christian Yelich. The Brewers' captain scorched a groundball, 107.1 mph off the bat, but there to field it was Bogaerts, who was positioned perfectly. Not only did Bogaerts trap Yelich's screaming liner, but he stepped on second and fired to first to complete a game-ending double play.

Yelich's game-ending double play was the third-hardest hit batted ball of the game, capping an unlucky contest for the Brewers. With Luis Lara running for Contreras at second base, had Yelich's batted ball snuck through to the outfield, it almost certainly would have tied the game, and, as previously mentioned, the Brewers held the bullpen advantage in the event of extra innings.

These four defensive plays weren't the sole reason the Brewers lost Game 3 -- a costly error from Cooper Pratt brought on by a broken bat that nearly hit him, a left-on-left home run from San Diego's nine-hitter Jake Cronenworth, and wasted scoring opportunities from the Brewers throughout the game certainly factored into the outcome as well. Even still, if one of these four improbable defensive plays by the Padres turns in the Brewers' favor, Milwaukee likely ends up at least tying Game 3 and sending it to extras. Maybe that's a reason to feel encouraged about Game 4 on Wednesday night, maybe it's a reason to feel even more frustrated by the loss, but regardless, the Padres needed perfect defense to keep their season alive in Game 3.

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