The San Diego Padres came within a swing of taking the lead in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Instead, a bizarre bounce off the American Family Field roof helped the Milwaukee Brewers escape with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
With the Padres trailing 3-2 in the ninth inning, Ty France launched a deep drive against Brewers closer Trevor Megill. The ball appeared to have a chance to become a go-ahead, two-run homer, but it struck a roof cable and dropped into Jackson Chourio’s glove for an out.
American Family Field’s ground rules made the play especially unusual. A batted ball that hits the roof, roof truss, or roof cable over fair territory remains in play. If a fielder catches it, the batter is out, and runners advance at their own risk.
“Batted ball strikes roof, roof truss, roof cable, or any cabling over fair territory, [ball is] in play. If caught by fielder, batter is out, and runners advance at own risk,” the rule read. “Batted ball strikes roof, roof truss, roof cable or any cabling over foul territory, [it is a] dead ball.”
However, the Padres challenged the call, but the review could only determine whether the ball was fair or foul. It could not determine whether France’s drive would have cleared the fence.
Soon after the incident, San Diego manager Craig Stammen called the play an unfortunate break and said the team should be able to move past it.
After France was retired in a wild late ninth-inning sequence, Jackson Merrill lined out to right field on the second pitch of his at-bat, ending the game there.
The loss put San Diego behind 1-0 in the best-of-five series. The Padres will have another opportunity Sunday in Game 2 as they look to even the series before it shifts to San Diego.