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On a day when American League teams rested, the National League Division Series continued with Game 2 action. The Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves emerged victorious, setting up pivotal Game 3 matchups.
Milwaukee secured a 2-0 series advantage over San Diego, while Atlanta leveled its series with Los Angeles at one game apiece.
Jackson Chourio proved once again that he thrives in high-pressure situations. Back in September, he told David Gasper that he was simply born for such moments, and on this night, the 22-year-old delivered another unforgettable play to put the Brewers in firm control against the Padres.
The scene was almost too perfect: the Brewers honored Nyjer Morgan, whose walk-off hit clinched the 2011 NLDS, to throw the ceremonial first pitch, and Chourio's family was in attendance. With the game and series momentum hanging in the balance, Chourio produced his finest at-bat as a Brewer.
After falling behind 1-2 against Mason Miller, baseball's premier closer, Chourio battled back. He fouled off a 104 MPH fastball on the low-outside corner, then laid off Miller's signature slider that would have finished most hitters. Finally, he got a fastball over the plate and ripped a 109 MPH line drive past second baseman Jake Cronenworth. The hit brought Christian Yelich home from third, and Sal Frelick's aggressive baserunning allowed him to score the winning run ahead of Jackson Merrill's throw.
In Los Angeles, the Braves faced a dilemma after dropping Game 1: should they start Chris Sale on short rest? Instead, manager Walt Weiss opted for a bullpen game, handing the ball to Ray Kerr. The gamble paid off as Atlanta edged the Dodgers 3-2 at Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium to tie the series.
Kerr dazzled with 2.2 scoreless innings, and the Braves' bullpen held the Dodgers to just two solo home runs. Atlanta manufactured runs with small ball and capitalized on Los Angeles's mistakes. Mauricio Dubon legged out a ground ball up the middle to plate the game's first run.
Then Michael Harris II took over. He tripled and scored the go-ahead run in the fifth on a wild pitch, then added a crucial insurance run in the seventh with a double off the right-center wall that scored Matt Olson, who was running on the pitch and scored easily.
Rookie Didier Fuentes was the unsung hero out of the bullpen, recording an 11-out hold—one out shy of a 12-out save. He allowed a home run on his final pitch, but his overall impact was significant, posting a +0.30 WPA. Closer Raisel Iglesias retired pinch-hitter Josue De Paula to secure the one-out save.
Now the Braves return home with Sale ready to start Game 3. The Cy Young finalist has a chance to put Atlanta in the driver's seat at Truist Park. History also favors the Braves: according to MLB's Sarah Langs, teams that split Games 1 and 2 on the road have gone on to win the series 30 of 49 times.
Michael McDermott has covered MLB since the 2016 season. He previously covered the Arizona Diamondbacks for On SI and the Arizona Fall League as credentialed media during the 2022-2025 seasons. Past stops include AZ Snake Pit, Burn City Sports, and FanSided. Follow michaelmcd8393.