David Ortiz didn’t sugarcoat it. Sitting in the FS1 studio with the Game 2 final — Brewers 4, Padres 3 — still on the screen behind him, Big Papi looked into the camera and said San Diego’s season is over. Not a hot take for the sake of it. A verdict.
What Ortiz Said, and Why It Landed
Ortiz was on the FS1 set as an analyst when he made the call, reacting in real time to what had just happened in the ninth inning at American Family Field. The weight behind his words comes partly from who he is — someone who knows exactly what it feels like to be on the wrong side of a postseason series — and partly from the record books. No team has ever come back from 0-2 in NLDS history. Big Papi isn’t inventing the drama. He’s just naming it.
The Hit That Broke San Diego: Chourio vs. Miller
To understand why Ortiz said what he said, you have to watch the ninth inning of Game 2. The Brewers had an 11% win probability before their final rally. The Padres had called on Mason Miller — 38 saves during the regular season, 1.67 ERA, the best closer in the National League in 2026 — for a six-out save, the first time he’d been asked to do that since 2024.
Miller was sharp. He retired six straight batters. But at 40 pitches — his highest total since 2023 — he entered the ninth with the bases loaded, two outs, and a 2-2 count on Jackson Chourio. Miller fired a 101.3 mph fastball. Chourio sent it right back through the box at 109.5 mph exit velocity. Two runs. Walk-off. Series 2-0, Milwaukee.
Chourio, just 22 years old, became the third-youngest player in postseason history to deliver a walk-off hit, according to CBS Sports. After the game he told MLB.com through an interpreter: «Happy I could come through with that hit there. I’ve got my family here in the stands, so I dedicate this one to them. Just happy I was able to do it. I don’t have words for this.»
Do the Padres Have a Chance? History Says Barely
San Diego isn’t mathematically eliminated. But the historical reality is about as grim as it gets. No team has ever overcome an 0-2 deficit in the NLDS to advance. The Padres need to win three straight games, two of them at home, starting with Game 3 on Tuesday, October 6 at Petco Park (9:30 p.m. ET, FS1/FOX Deportes).
The series has already had its share of bitterness. In Game 1, a Ty France ball struck a cable in the closed roof at American Family Field and fell into Chourio’s glove, preserving Milwaukee’s win under controversial circumstances. The Padres pushed to open the roof for Game 2 to avoid another controversy. The Brewers won anyway.
- Brewers finished the regular season 103-59, best record in the National League
- Padres went 91-71 — a solid team, but clearly outmatched so far
- Miller’s 1.67 ERA and 38 saves meant nothing when the moment got too big
- Chourio’s walk-off: 109.5 mph off a 101.3 mph fastball, bases loaded, two outs
Big Papi’s forecast might technically be premature. In practice, the history of this series format backs him up almost entirely. The Padres head home needing a miracle — and right now, Milwaukee isn’t in a miracle-giving mood.
