Brewers strand 11 as Padres hold on for 4-3 Game 3 win

The Brewers had enough baserunners to threaten a sweep. The Padres had the final double play. San Diego won Game 3 of the National League Division Series 4-3 on Tuesday, cutting Milwaukee’s lead to 2-1 and forcing another game at Petco Park on Wednesday.

Milwaukee collected 11 hits and four walks but left 11 runners on base. Its last opportunity ended when Christian Yelich grounded into a double play with one out and two runners aboard in the ninth. Xander Bogaerts fielded the ball near second, touched the bag and threw to first, preserving San Diego’s season.

Michael King earned the save with two scoreless innings, just two days after starting Game 2. He allowed a single in the eighth and walked William Contreras and Brice Turang in the ninth, but Yelich’s grounder ended the threat. King threw 40 pitches, struck out one and allowed one hit.

MLB’s original Game 3 highlights show the October 6 finish and the scoring that preceded it.

King’s assignment followed a significant change to San Diego’s bullpen. Mason Miller went on the paternity list before the game, and Wandy Peralta replaced him on the NLDS roster. The Padres could not turn to their regular closer while protecting a one-run lead. Bradgley Rodriguez got through the seventh before King handled the last six outs.

Jake Cronenworth supplied the lead San Diego protected. With the game tied 2-2 in the fifth, he homered to right off JoJo Romero’s first pitch of the inning. Bogaerts then scored an insurance run in the sixth, reaching on a single and moving up on a wild pitch before Cooper Pratt’s throwing error on Miguel Andujar’s grounder allowed him home.

Those runs followed Milwaukee’s recovery from an early deficit. Fernando Tatis Jr.’s groundout and Manny Machado’s single gave the Padres two runs in the third. Samad Taylor and Jackson Merrill both singled, stole second and scored in that inning. Taylor started after Gavin Sheets was scratched with a stiff neck.

Contreras responded with a solo home run in the fourth. Jackson Chourio’s sacrifice fly scored Pratt in the fifth, bringing Milwaukee level. The Brewers still had a bases-loaded opportunity later in that inning, but Matsui got Brice Turang to ground into a forceout with the bases loaded, keeping the score tied.

Milwaukee threatened again in the seventh. After two strikeouts, Contreras singled, Turang followed with another single and Yelich drove Contreras home. Rodriguez struck out Garrett Mitchell, leaving two more Brewers stranded. King then prevented Milwaukee from completing its comeback.

Dustin May gave up two runs in three innings for Milwaukee. Nick Pivetta allowed two runs over 4⅓ innings for San Diego, with Matsui credited with the win and Romero the loss. The Padres finished with six hits and no errors; Milwaukee’s lone error contributed to the deciding run.

Game 4 starts Wednesday at 10 p.m. Eastern. Milwaukee retains two chances to advance, while San Diego must win again to send the series back to Milwaukee for a potential Game 5 on Friday.