William Contreras delivered when the Milwaukee Brewers needed him most. The star catcher launched a go-ahead home run in the seventh inning to beat the San Diego Padres 3-2 in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday night.
Contreras’ solo shot gave Milwaukee its first lead of the night and helped the Brewers overcome a shaky start from Jacob Misiorowski. The Brewers now lead the best-of-five series 1-0.
Milwaukee fell behind 2-0 in the second inning after the Padres strung together several hits against Misiorowski. The rookie sensation lasted only four innings, allowing two runs on 88 pitches.
The Brewers answered in the third. Jackson Chourio crushed a two-run homer off Robbie Ray to tie the game at 2-2. It was Chourio’s fifth postseason home run, making him Milwaukee’s all-time leader in playoff homers at just 22 years old.
Contreras then provided the decisive swing in the seventh against Adrian Morejon. The Padres reliever left a fastball over the outside part of the plate, and Contreras drove it into the right-center-field seats.
Article Continues BelowThe Brewers’ bullpen protected the lead from there, but San Diego created a dramatic opportunity in the ninth.
Ty France sent a 105.3 mph line drive toward the left-field roof with a runner on base. The ball struck the roof in fair territory and dropped into Chourio’s glove, resulting in an out under American Family Field’s ground rules. The Padres challenged the call, but the ruling stood.
San Diego finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base.
The Brewers will try to take a 2-0 series lead Sunday. Michael King is scheduled to start for San Diego, while Milwaukee will send rookie Logan Henderson to the mound.