Cronenworth's Go-Ahead Homer Lifts Padres Over Brewers

Jake Cronenworth hit a go-ahead home run, and the San Diego Padres held on to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in Game 3 of the National League Division Series, avoiding a sweep. The screenshot shows Milwaukee leading the best-of-five series 2-0 before the game, so it now stands at 2-1.

Cronenworth was the difference, going 2 for 3 with the homer, an RBI, and a run scored. By my reading of the inning-by-inning scoring, the home run came in the fifth, after Milwaukee had tied the game 2-2, and it put the Padres back in front for good. The shot came off Brewers reliever JoJo Romero, who took the loss.

San Diego jumped ahead early with two runs in the third. Milwaukee answered with a run in the fourth and another in the fifth to tie it, but Cronenworth's blast changed the game. The Padres added an insurance run in the sixth to make it 4-2, and Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. each drove in a run.

The Brewers made it close. William Contreras had a big night with three hits, including a home run, and scored twice. Christian Yelich added two hits, and Milwaukee outhit San Diego 11-6. But the Brewers went just 2 for 7 with runners in scoring position and pulled within a run in the seventh, which was as close as they got.

On the mound, starter Nick Pivetta went 4⅓ innings, allowing five hits and two runs. Yuki Matsui picked up the win, and Michael King pitched the final two innings for the save, striking out one and keeping Milwaukee off the board.

The win keeps San Diego's season alive. The Padres now need to win Game 4 on Wednesday night in San Diego to force a deciding Game 5. If they do, the series would return to Milwaukee for a possible final game on Saturday. Milwaukee can still close the series out with one more win.