MILWAUKEE (AP) — Mason Miller's emergence as the best closer in the major leagues helped get San Diego into the playoffs.
His uncharacteristic troubles in the ninth inning Sunday have the Padres on the brink of elimination.
The two-time All-Star closer struggled with control, loading the bases in the ninth inning against Milwaukee with the first three walks of his postseason career as he tried to complete a six-out save.
Jackson Chourio followed with a walk-off, two-run single with two outs that dealt the Padres a 4-3 loss. San Diego went home in a 2-0 NL Division Series deficit heading into Game 3 Tuesday.
“I didn’t do my job today, so instead of being here with a win and a series tie, we’re in a hole,” Miller said.
Miller’s unsuccessful attempt at his first six-out save since 2024 came one day after Adrian Morejon gave up a tiebreaking homer to William Contreras in the seventh inning of a 3-2 defeat.
“Two really good games that didn’t go our way,” first baseman Ty France said. “Just go back home and play each game like it’s our last.”
San Diego’s inability to protect two-run leads in each of these first two games is a notable turn of events for a team that could shorten games much of the season because of its deep corps of relief pitchers.
The hard-throwing Miller led the bullpen brigade by collecting 38 saves and posting a 1.67 ERA while striking out 129 batters over 70 innings in the regular season. He threw 34 2/3 straight scoreless innings at one point in the season.
Miller hadn’t been as dominant lately. He had an 0.79 ERA at the end of July before posting a 3.33 ERA from Aug. 1 through the end of the regular season. Even so, Miller’s presence has given the Padres a sense of security they can maintain any late-inning lead.
It didn’t happen Sunday.
Miller retired the side in order with a pair of strikeouts in the eighth inning and got the leadoff batter in the ninth with San Diego ahead 3-2.
That's when the problems started.
Christian Yelich walked on five pitches and stole second. Sal Frelick walked on a 3-2 pitch. After Miller retired Andrew Vaughn on a fly to center, Gary Sánchez walked while taking six straight pitches.
Chourio fell behind 1-2 in the count, fouled off Miller's fasted pitch of the day at 103.5 mph, then took a low slider before lining a 101.3 mph offering just past past second baseman Jake Cronenworth’s attempt for a diving backhand stop and went into center field.
Although Miller threw 40 pitches — his most since 2023 — he said that didn’t impact him and that he had felt fine. He topped 100 mph with 18 pitches.
“It’s not the first save I’ve blown and it probably won’t be the last one I blow, either,” Miller said. “It’s part of the job. Failure in my role is really hard to move past, I guess, when you look at it, because most of the time, when you fail, you lose. Other spots, you get another chance. That’s part of it. I’m going to come back and be prepared to pitch Tuesday and do my best to help the team win.”
San Diego remains confident it came rebound, If the Padres do, Miller likely would play a major role.
“He’s been unbelievable ever since he put on a Padre uniform,” pitcher Michael King said. “I know everybody in this locker room wants him with the ball in a big situation — and still does.”
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
San Diego Padres' Mason Miller throws during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio hits a walkoff hit off San Diego Padres' Mason Miller during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
San Diego Padres' Mason Miller reacts during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
MADRID (AP) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced early elections Monday after his government suffered a bruising legislative defeat last week on emergency measures related to the country’s housing crisis.
The vote will be held Nov. 29.
In recent weeks, Spaniards have demanded solutions from the government over housing affordability, holding protests in cities across the country after public outrage grew over the televised eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid last month.
Right-wing opposition parties joined forces to scuttle two emergency decrees in Parliament that included measures to reduce evictions and real estate speculation. The setback sparked wide speculation that Sánchez could consider moving up a national election from next year.
In a televised address, Sánchez argued that a broader progressive coalition in Parliament would allow Spaniards to tackle the biggest issues facing the country today.
“The time has come, therefore, for the Spanish people to decide what future you want for yourselves and for your country,” Sánchez said.
Sánchez, 54, has been Spain’s prime minister since 2018, making him one of Europe’s longest-standing leaders.
He has become one of the leading international progressive heads of government thanks to his defense of migration, his diplomatic efforts to defend Palestinians and his criticism of the American and Israeli war against Iran.
He has also enjoyed one of the fastest growing economies in the developed world in recent years.
But back home, the Spanish leader has been hemmed in by a series of legal cases involving his Socialist party as well as his wife and brother, who both deny wrongdoing.
He has also struggled to account for this summer’s border crossing by tens of thousands of mostly Moroccans into Spain’s North African territory of Ceuta, where a humanitarian crisis remains two months after the initial crisis.
He has led a coalition minority government along with the left-wing junior partner Sumar since 2023. But his reliance on several smaller parties to get anything done has hamstrung his legislative ability.
Throughout his political career, Sánchez has earned a reputation as a political escape artist capable of winning elections he looked set to lose.
The Socialist leader appears set to face another tough election against the conservative Popular Party that holds the most seats in Parliament already and will aim to retake control of the government.
The formal dissolution of parliament will need to be approved by the Cabinet, which Sánchez has convened for later Monday.
Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.
People seen through a window inside a bar in La Cabrera, on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain, watch a televised speech by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez from La Moncloa Palace announcing national elections, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
People at a bar in La Cabrera, on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain, watch a televised speech by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez from La Moncloa Palace announcing national elections, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)
FILE - A partially damaged poster of Spanish Prime Minister and Socialist Party candidate Pedro Sanchez flaps in Parla, on the outskirts of Madrid, Spain, April 26, 2019. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
FILE - Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attends the inauguration of the Tower of Jesus Christ by Pope Leo XIV at the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, June 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
FILE - Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez poses for a portrait after an interview with The Associated Press at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, Spain, June 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, left, applauds at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Friday Oct. 2, 2026. (Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via AP)
People demonstrate to demand stronger laws to protect renters in Madrid, Spain Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. The banner reads in Spanish: toward the general strike. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
People demonstrate to demand stronger laws to protect renters in Madrid, Spain Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
People hold up keys as a sign of protest during a demonstration demanding stronger laws to protect renters in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrea Comas)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez arrives at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Friday Oct. 2, 2026. (Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via AP)
