One Swing, One Save, One Night That Kept San Diego's Season Alive
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Jake Cronenworth's go-ahead home run proved the decisive blow as the San Diego Padres defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 Tuesday night in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, cutting Milwaukee's series lead to 2-1. The manner of the victory was as notable as the margin: San Diego stranded eleven Brewers baserunners and held Milwaukee to a 2-for-7 line with runners in scoring position, suffocating the opposition in the moments that mattered most.
Michael King authored the game's most extraordinary individual performance, returning to the mound just two days after starting Game 2 on 72 pitches to record six outs — requiring 40 additional pitches — for the save. The physical toll of that outing on King's arm heading deeper into the series remains a question the Padres' medical staff will need to answer in real time.
The bullpen's performance came under circumstances that made it even more remarkable. Closer Mason Miller, one of the most effective relievers in baseball this season, was placed on the postseason paternity list roughly 45 minutes before first pitch after his wife went into labor, with no timeline set for his return. Wandy Peralta stepped onto the active roster to fill the gap. Setup man Adrián Morejón was simultaneously managing shoulder fatigue, leaving the Padres without two primary late-inning options at full strength.
Game 4 is Wednesday night, with Randy Buehler taking the mound for San Diego. Buehler carries a 3.04 ERA across 19 career postseason appearances and posted a 3.62 ERA over 13 second-half starts this season — a profile that suggests a pitcher experienced in and often sharpened by October pressure. Milwaukee has not named a traditional starter, with multi-inning options Robert Gasser, Shane Drohan, and Chad Patrick available, pointing toward a bullpen game from the Brewers. A San Diego win ties the series at 2-2; a Milwaukee win closes it out at home.