Uncharacteristic defense leads to characteristic Brewers comeback in Game 2 of NLDS

The Milwaukee Brewers are known for doing the little things right. Attention to detail, hustle, awareness, fundamentals -- these are all points of emphasis for Pat Murphy's squads and in 2026 led the Brewers to a record-breaking 103 regular season wins. When these pillars aren't prioritized by a player on his team, Murphy isn't afraid to let them know, often in the form of a mid-game benching that sends a reminder not only to the individual but also to the team of the Brewers' high expectations.

When one of these pillars falls, it's easy to see the impact it has on the team's success. Whether it be a baserunning error or a lack of a hustle on a groundball that could have been beat out, the little things so often play an important role in the outcome of the game, and when they aren't done so to near perfection, it makes for a more difficult path to victory.

On Sunday afternoon, in the Brewers' comeback victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 2 of the NLDS, it was uncharacteristically poor defense that caused Murphy's squad to fall behind early. Known for their sharpness on the dirt, the Brewers' infielders collectively committed three errors that led to two unearned runs which had them starting at a one-run deficit when All-Star closer Mason Miller entered in the eighth inning. A groundball went underneath the glove of Brice Turang, preventing a would-be double-play, Cooper Pratt was charged with an error for a throw to first base that ended up out of play, and David Hamilton couldn't field a ground ball cleanly, allowing a runner that eventually came around to score to reach base in the seventh inning.

The first eight innings were extremely uncharacteristic of the Brewers, who seldom gift their opponents with free runs that jeopardize their ability to win the game. However, that atypical play set up the Brewers for one of their typical comebacks, which was capped by one of the most incredible postseason moments in the franchise's history.

Brewers' relentless approach sets up Jackson Chourio's electric walk-off single off Padres closer Mason Miller

Miller entered the game in the eighth, quickly earned three outs, and was asked to return for the ninth inning in search of a six-out save. Garrett Mitchell led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a ground out to shortstop, but Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick followed with impressive at-bats against Miller that ended in walks.

With runners on first and second and one out, Murphy turned to his bench and called upon Andrew Vaughn to pinch hit for Pratt. Vaughn flew out to center field, but Murphy still had one weapon remaining on his bench who could turn the order over: Gary Sánchez. Asked to come off the bench and face the best relief pitcher in the game, the six-pitch walk that Sánchez eventually drew was among the most impressive at-bats of the game.

The stage was set. With two outs, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, and a one-run deficit, 22-year-old Jackson Chourio stepped to the plate. Chourio fell behind 1-2 due to a pair of big swings on in-zone fastballs before taking a nasty slider below the zone to even the count at 2-2. Miller went back to the fastball, left it over the plate, and Chourio shot a single up the middle, past the outstretched glove of second baseman Jake Cronenworth. Yelich scored easily from third and Frelick raced home from second to give the Brewers an improbable 4-3 victory.

Chourio's heroics absolutely deserve the most attention, but the relentlessness from Yelich, Frelick, and Sánchez to draw walks off Miller showcased the mentality and approach that the Brewers preached all year. After the game, on his team's ability to play all 27 outs at max effort, night in and night out, Murphy said, "They have a belief. That's what it is. They have a belief...We didn't play special. When do you see us make four defensive miscues in a game in the infield? We gave up all those free bases, and we're lucky to stay in the game." But stay in the game they did and give up they did not. The result was one of the most memorable postseason wins in franchise history.

Team captain Christian Yelich also acknowledged the team's lack of perfection in the early innings, saying, "I don't think we played our cleanest today. It definitely wasn't our best game, but we were able to just keep grinding and find a way to pull it out there at the end."

That unwavering effort and never-give-up mentality is a reason to believe this year's team is different. Continued Yelich, "It's just a credit to the guys. We've been doing it all year, just being tough and finding ways to get the job done. Nobody cares who it is, who gets it done, just in those situations you know what you've got to do."

Thanks to this unique mentality and even rarer ability to truly execute it, the Brewers now have a 2-0 lead in the NLDS as they head to San Diego for Game 3 on Tuesday night. You can be sure there won't be any let-up in Murphy's squad as they look to close out the Padres in quick fashion.

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