SAN DIEGO – The big hits that played such a big role for the San Diego Padres over the first two games simply weren’t there in the series finale, as they fell 3-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday afternoon at Petco Park.

Jackson Merrill had a solo home run, but the Padres (87-72) generated multiple base runners in just two innings and went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. Milwaukee (96-63) tied their franchise record for wins in a season, adding to their MLB-best mark at 45-36 on the road.

Ramón Laureano fractured the index finger on his right hand during his first at bat of the game and did not return.

“He will not be ready for the first round of the playoffs, said manager Mike Shildt. “Winners find solutions, right when we were about to get the band together this happens and it’s one of those things…

“Ramon’s been fantastic for us, he’s a guy that brings quality at bats, there’s not a splitty-ness to him — he’s actually been a little better this year against right-handed pitchers — he’s a real threat and the ball jumps off his bat, he’s got real power to all fields, understands how to situationally hit. There’s some real toughness to him…he’s been a nice presence not only in our lineup but our clubhouse.”

Merrill gave the San Diego offense a jolt in the sixth, driving an outside cutter opposite field into the first deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. for his 16th home run of the season. Six of his round-trippers have come in September, as the game-tying big fly chased Brewers reliever Erick Fedde after 2 ⅔ innings.

“I was just on-time and ready to hit,” Merrill said. “Didn’t really like how the game started, but I found myself in better position just to lock in and not really let those first two at bats affect me like they did earlier in the year.”

 

But Milwaukee retook the lead in the seventh against Adrian Morejon, as after the Padres reliever was able to induce a double-play ground out, Jackson Chourio singled and then stole second. Brice Turang brought him home with an RBI single to center, cashing in the 13th man to reach base for the Brewers.

The Padres got runners on second and third with one out in the seventh after a lead off infield single by Xander Bogaerts and a Ryan O’Hearn knock, followed by their Majors-leading 48th sacrifice by Bryce Johnson. But after an intentional walk loaded the bases, reliever Nick Mears got a called strikeout and fly out to end the threat.

It was made to hurt even more when Danny Jansen was able to get around on a low and inside slider in the ninth inning, turning on it and hitting it out down the left field line off reliever Jeremiah Estrada for his 13th home run of the season and a 3-1 lead.

Milwaukee’s men on base was a theme that began as Dylan Cease worked through traffic for most of his afternoon, battling his way through a five-inning and 100-pitch effort as he equaled the Majors-high of with his 32nd start. Milwaukee stranded seven runners and got two hits in 10 RISP chances against the righty.

“I feel like I’m getting my off-speed in the zone really well and also feel like I’m getting my fastball to my lanes pretty well, so there’s always room for improvement but I like where I’m at,” Cease said. 

In the third inning Cease was able to escape a bases-loaded jam by inducing a six-four-three double play that ended the inning. Then an inning later he got back-to-back strikeouts to leave men on first and second base, as Cease finished with eight strikeouts and a pair of walks.

Milwaukee finally got on the board in the fifth inning when Brice Turang reached with a two-out single, then was able to get to third on a wild pitch. Andrew Vaughn then worked the count full and yanked a slider down the left field line for an RBI double and the first run of the game.

Outside of the first inning, the Padres offense was unable to generate many threats to back up Cease. Luis Arraez led off with a single to bump his hit streak to 13 games, but after Gavin Sheets walked following back-to-back strikeouts, Bogaerts hit a long drive to center field but had a home run stolen by Chourio at the wall.

 

Milwaukee started Chad Patrick, who pitched the first three innings before turning the game over to Fedde. The two had combined to retire 10 consecutive Padres batters before Merrill’s blast in the sixth. Reliever Aaron Ashby earned his fifth win and reliever Abner Uribe notched his sixth save.

David Morgan pitched the sixth inning and had his walk erased when Freddy Fermin caught Jake Bauers stealing, then the reliever notched a strikeout to complete the frame. Kyle Hart pitched a clean eighth, needing just eight pitches.

Morejon took his sixth loss of the season after allowing a run on three hits in his inning of work, while Estrada allowed just the solo shot in the ninth.

Fernando Tatis Jr. did not play for the third consecutive game, with Shildt saying that today was about making the illness is behind him and that he should be ready to go.

After an off day on Thursday, the Padres will begin their final series of the regular season against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Yu Darvish (4-5, 5.51 ERA) will get the nod while the visitors have yet to determine a starter for the 6:40 p.m. first pitch on Friday, Sept. 26 at Petco Park.

This story was updated at 4:51 p.m.