Tatis, Padres eliminated from postseason by top-seeded Brewers in 4 games

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Fernando Tatis Jr.'s 429-foot home run to straightaway center field leading off the third inning got the sellout crowd of 47,712 at Petco Park revved up and waving their yellow rally towels.

That was pretty much the extent of the excitement for those fans as the San Diego Padres once again fell short of winning their first World Series.

Tatis' second homer of the postseason tied the score at 1, but the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Padres 3-1 on Wednesday night to take their best-of-five NL Division Series in four games.

Manny Machado nearly tied it with a two-run homer in the eighth, but Garrett Mitchell made the catch at the center-field fence to rob him.

With the crowd on its feet still hoping for a comeback, pinch-hitter Gavin Sheets struck out to end it and the Brewers had a muted celebration on the field.

San Diego had only three hits.

“So many emotions,” said Tatis, who didn't hit his first home run until May 30 but finished with a 25-25 season that included some spectacular home run-robbing catches in right field.

“This group is so special, man, and we went through so many downs and ups this year, and how we became one. We went through every battle and just stuck together. It was such an enjoyable group to play baseball together and to go through the rough times, and the only thing I can say is thank you to every single one of them.”

While the top-seeded Brewers head home to get ready to host the Padres' biggest rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, the Padres head off into an uncertain offseason.

New owners José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones brought an exciting vibe to the team when they took over in late August. Now it's up to them to back general manager A.J. Preller in trying to get San Diego that elusive World Series title.

The Padres haven't been to the Fall Classic since making it for a second time in 1998. They didn't win either one.

This year, their third consecutive 90-win season carried them into the playoffs for the third straight autumn, both club records.

They did it behind rookie manager Craig Stammen, a surprise hire last fall after Mike Shildt retired less than two weeks after the Padres were eliminated by the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in the wild-card round.

The Padres struggled so much during the first half that fans wondered if Preller would trade fireballing closer Mason Miller. But he kept Miller and the Padres turned it on in the second half to reach the postseason.

“It stings right now, for sure,” said Machado, who chatted with the new owners in the clubhouse after the game.

The Padres beat the Cubs in two games at Petco Park last week to sweep their Wild Card Series before losing two close, riveting games in Milwaukee.

San Diego stayed alive with a 4-3 win Tuesday night in which Michael King, the Game 2 starter, earned a two-inning save on one day of rest to extend the season one more night.

Joe Musgrove, who grew up in suburban El Cajon, didn't make his season debut until Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Cubs due to a prolonged recovery from Tommy John surgery. It was his first appearance since the Wild Card Series against Atlanta in 2024.

“I don’t think anybody’s satisfied with how the year ended, but I think everyone’s pretty proud of how we played,” said Musgrove, who pitched the final two innings Wednesday night. “Where we came from in May, June, being under .500, and Tati not even having a home run and Manny hitting .200, and then where we ended our year and how we finished strong at home and gave our fans something to be proud of.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

San Diego Padres players watch from the dugout during the ninth inning in Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr., right, celebrates his home run with Manny Machado during the third inning in Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the third inning in Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres' Samad Taylor pauses after striking out to end the seventh inning in Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

San Diego Padres players watch from the dugout during the seventh inning in Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

San Diego Padres' Ty France reacts after he was forced out by Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang during the sixth inning in Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Myanmar’s military-backed leader pressed on with his pivot to diplomacy on a visit to Malaysia, his first since becoming president earlier this year, holding talks Thursday with the country's prime minister and other officials in an effort to boost ties.

But the visit by Min Aung Hlaing, a former military chief inaugurated as president in April after a general election judged by rights groups as designed to cement the military’s hold on power, has not been free of criticism.

The Myanmar leader has also faced pressure from other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the regional bloc known as ASEAN, to end the civil war in his country.

The visit comes just days after nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals were returned to Myanmar from Malaysia. The United Nations refugee agency and rights groups have slammed the repatriations, saying that the security and humanitarian situation in parts of Myanmar remains volatile, and returnees could face persecution and forced military conscription in an active war zone.

Myanmar’s government is also seeking to restore international ties. Last month, the Trump administration sent a high-level delegation to Myanmar to help secure the release of American businessman Adam Castillo, who was subsequently freed and returned to the United States.

Myanmar’s state-run Global New Light of Myanmar suggested the decision was made to curry favor and maintain friendly relations with Washington.

After landing in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, Min Aung Hlaing sought to reassure Malaysian investors that Myanmar was on a path toward democracy and that his government was working to restore stability, state-run MRTV television reported in its evening news program.

The visit was also Min Aung Hlaing’s fifth to a fellow ASEAN member. Critics and analysts say expanding bilateral engagement could gradually normalize his government’s regional standing — even as ASEAN blocks Myanmar from top-level meetings since the country's 2021 military takeover that triggered an armed resistance.

On Thursday, after an official welcome and honor guard, he met with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who assured him that Kuala Lumpur wanted to strengthen cooperation with Myanmar while continuing to raise concerns over the lack of democratic reforms and ongoing violence.

“We will do whatever is possible to make sure that we enhance this collaboration and ultimately take Myanmar as part of our community of nations without prejudice, and particularly in the context of ASEAN,” Anwar said.

Anwar said bilateral trade had increased by more than 140% year-on-year, while Min Aung Hlaing said Malaysia was Myanmar’s fourth-largest trading partner and ninth-largest investor.

“I firmly believe that enhancing our bilateral economic cooperation will bring highly practical economic benefits and joint opportunities for the people of both countries,” the Myanmar leader said.

Min Aung Hlaing earlier visited Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia in attempts to rebuild regional ties that deteriorated after he ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government in February 2021 while serving as army chief.

Malaysia has stressed that inviting Min Aung Hlaing, who became president in April following a much-criticized election, does not amount to diplomatic recognition of Myanmar’s government.

The high-profile reception awarded Min Aung Hlaing could help reposition him internationally, said Khoo Ying Hooi, an associate professor in international relations at University Malaya. But she warned that such engagements could weaken ASEAN's leverage to push Myanmar to end its conflict.

“There's a serious contradiction here,” she said. "ASEAN continues to demand progress to end the violence but their collective pressure is already weakened” with bilateral engagement focusing on economic cooperation.

Rights groups protested against the visit with a peaceful rally in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. (How many people took part in the protest?)

“We do not want to see ASEAN nations help him gain his legitimacy,” said Swam Saung, of the Myanmar Affairs Alliance.

Malaysia's prime minister has defended the repatriation policy, saying his country cannot host the undocumented foreign nationals indefinitely and that Myanmar must take responsibility for its citizens.

Anwar said 10,493 Myanmar citizens have so far been returned from Malaysia to Myanmar on flights and naval ships this year, including nearly 1,500 who were returned last week — the first of some 5,000 people who have agreed to be repatriated in stages.

Min Aung Hlaing promised to expedite the process and send a naval vessel to Malaysia to assist with further repatriations. Malaysia says 11,804 Myanmar nationals are still held at detention facilities across Malaysia.

It's unclear if any of the returnees included minority Muslim Rohingya, who are facing persecution in Myanmar and have been denied citizenship.

Malaysia is home to about 215,600 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR, including about 126,000 Rohingya who make up one of Southeast Asia’s largest refugee communities. Despite hosting them, Malaysia isn’t a party to the U.N. Refugee Convention and treats refugees as undocumented migrants.

Rohingya have faced growing public hostility in Malaysia because of their increasing numbers, fueled by concerns over jobs, public services and security.

Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing inspects an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony ahead of his meeting with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his visit at the Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Azneal Ishak, Pool)

Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing, left, and Malaysian's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, attend a bilateral meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Azneal Ishak, Pool)

Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing, left, speaks as Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim listens during a joint press conference following their meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Azneal Ishak, Pool)

Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing, left, walks with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during their meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Azneal Ishak, Pool)

Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing speaks during a joint press conference with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim following their meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Azneal Ishak, Pool)