Garrett Mitchell knew he had one chance to keep Manny Machado’s potential game-tying home run from leaving the park. The Milwaukee Brewers center fielder made the play, reaching over the Petco Park wall to preserve a 3-1 lead in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the NLDS.
However, according to Mitchell, the situation was something he had already prepared for mentally. It ultimately allowed his instincts to take over when Machado sent the ball toward the right-center field wall.
“Yeah, instincts take over in a situation like that. I mean, obviously I'm answering the question, but instinct, as that play is happening, I've already kind of thought about it before: runner on first, kind of play. A situation like what happens on a base hit, what's going on, so shade it a little bit over. But yeah, I just got a good job. Got back to the wall trying to get myself set. I didn't know whether or not if it was going to be a homer or not. All I thought was I got to get back to the wall first to give myself a shot,” Mitchell said.
The ball went 406 feet at 106.7 mph and would have been a home run in 19 MLB ballparks. At Petco Park, however, Mitchell’s glove ended the threat and left Machado visibly frustrated.
The play helped Milwaukee finish off San Diego with a 3-1 victory, sending the Brewers to the NLCS. Mitchell also contributed offensively, driving in Milwaukee’s first run before tripling and scoring in the fifth.
Mitchell credited manager Craig Stammen for helping him stay focused after the previous game and said the Brewers were not overwhelmed by the pressure of an elimination game.