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Milwaukee Brewers’ Jackson Chourio celebrates after hitting a walkoff hit during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the San Diego Padres Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
Kayla Wolf\/AP Photo\/Kayla Wolf<\/p>\n
Milwaukee Brewers’ Jackson Chourio is douced by Garrett Mitchell and William Contreras after hitting a walkoff hit during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the San Diego Padres Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
Kayla Wolf\/AP Photo\/Kayla Wolf<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Chris Carlson\/AP Photo\/Chris Carlson<\/p>\n
Milwaukee Brewers’ Jackson Chourio hits a walkoff hit during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the San Diego Padres Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
Chris Carlson\/AP Photo\/Chris Carlson<\/p>\n
Milwaukee Brewers’ Jackson Chourio is congratulated after hitting a walkoff hit during the ninth inning of Game 2 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the San Diego Padres Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026, in Milwaukee.<\/p>\n
Chris Carlson\/AP Photo\/Chris Carlson<\/p>\n
MILWAUKEE (AP) \u2014 Jackson Chourio says his knack for coming through in clutch situations stems from one instance when he failed to deliver during his rookie year.<\/p>\n
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Just about every Milwaukee Brewers opponent has been paying for that ever since, as baseball’s best closer now knows.<\/p>\n
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Chourio hit a two-run single<\/a> off hard-throwing Mason Miller with two outs in the ninth inning as the Brewers rallied past the San Diego Padres for the second straight day, a 4-3 victory Sunday for a 2-0 NL Division Series lead.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it’s probably in the top three of the special moments I’ve had in my career,\u201d Chourio said through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert.<\/p>\n The fact Chourio didn’t automatically rank it atop the list speaks volumes about all the memorable moments the 22-year-old already has produced in his first three seasons. Chourio said his drive to deliver in these moments intensified after he struck out against Andr\u00e9s Mu\u00f1oz, ending a loss to Seattle early in his rookie year.<\/p>\n \u201cAt that point, everything turned for me,\u201d Chourio said. \u201cI told myself I was never going to make the last out. I\u2019d dedicate myself to fighting and doing whatever I could for the team and not having that feeling again from that specific game.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n San Diego, which entered the postseason with 20 wins in its last 23 games, headed home for Game 3 of the best-of-five series on Tuesday following its first back-to-back losses since Sept. 1-2.<\/p>\n Milwaukee rallied from 2-0 deficits on consecutive days by beating the Padres’ bullpen. William Contreras hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning against Adrian Morejon on Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a big challenge,\u201d Padres manager Craig Stammen said. \u201cThey\u2019re a great team. You saw how hard they battle us here in Milwaukee. But we like where we are when we play at home.”<\/p>\n Michael King retired his first 14 batters as the Padres went ahead 2-0, and they led 3-2 when Miller entered trying for his first six-out save since 2024.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The two-time All-Star closer retired the side in order in the eighth. After a leadoff groundout in the ninth, Miller issued his first career postseason walks to Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick.<\/p>\n Andrew Vaughn flied out and pinch hitter Gary S\u00e1nchez walked, taking six straight pitches.<\/p>\n That brought Chourio to the plate, one day after he sparked a 4-3 comeback victory with a tying, two-run homer in the third inning.<\/p>\n \u201cWatching those at-bats beforehand, I knew that he was a little bit erratic,\u201d Chourio said. \u201cHe was throwing some balls. I knew that he was going to come at me with the fastball at some point, so mentally I was just making sure that I was prepared for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n