In Game 2 of the National League Division Series, the Padres followed the script they like the most: Michael King starting a game and Mason Miller finishing it. That formula that has worked so many times finally faltered, putting the Padres in dire straits after a 4-3 walkoff loss to the Brewers that gave Milwaukee a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five National League Division Series. They’ll be heading back to Petco Park, where the Padres will have to start a three-game winning streak to keep their season alive. Miller was asked for a two-inning save, throwing a season-high in pitches and allowing a two-run single to Jackson Chourio after walking the bases loaded to give the Brewers a second straight stunning victory. San Diego got a run off Brewers rookie Logan Harrison in the 1st inning. With two outs, Manny Machado worked a walk and advanced to 2nd base on a wild pitch to get into scoring position. He scored on the very next pitch when Ty France swatted a single into right-centerfield for a 1-0 Friars lead. The Padres got another run in the 4th inning thanks to some uncharacteristically bad Brewers defense. With Luis Campusano on 1st, Fernando Tatís Jr. hit a ground ball right at 2nd baseman Brice Turang, a routine double play ball. Turang let the ball slide right under his glove and into centerfield as Campusano scampered to 3rd base with one out. The next batter was Dustin Harris, who hit another grounder to Turang. This time, he made the play and fed shortstop Cooper Pratt for one out but Pratt’s throw got away from 1st baseman Jake Bauers, allowing Campy to score and make it a 2-0 game. In his last start, Game 1 of the Wild Card round against the Cubs, Michael King took a no-hitter into the 7th inning. On Sunday, it looked like he was going to be even better. King retired the first 14 batters he faced and with his stuff, you’re thinking a Perfect Game might be on the table. Then the Brewers’ offense showed up. Christian Yelich doubled into the right field corner and scored on a Sal Frelick single to put Milwaukee on the board. King was able to get out of the inning without further damage, but he only lasted one more batter. He hit Jackson Chourio leading off the 6th, coaxing manager Craig Stammen out of the bullpen to get Yuki Matsui. The lefty did exactly what they needed him to do, retiring Turang, Bauers, and William Contreras on eight pitches to get out of the inning. Another run was gifted to the Padres in the 7th inning. Fernando Tatís Jr.’s grounder ate up David Hamilton at 3rd base for Milwaukee’s third error of the game. After Manny Machado walked Ty France continued his torrid postseason with another RBI single to pump the lead up to 3-1. But, Machado was thrown out trying to advance to 3rd base, so the inning ended with Jackson Merrill stranded in the on-deck circle. The Brewers got one back in the bottom half thanks to the first Padres error of the postseason. With two runners on and two outs, Bradgley Rodriguez induced a soft grounder from Hamilton. The ball kicked off the heel of Jake Cronenworth’s glove and as he rushed to get control, he threw wildly to 1st base. The miscue allowed Garrett Mitchell to score and cut the lead to 3-2. Rodriguez got Chourio to ground out to shortstop to end the inning. The Padres squandered a golden opportunity to get themselves some breathing room. Jackson Merrill and Samad Taylor singled on consecutive pitches to lead off the 8th inning. Xander Bogaerts struck out looking and Freddy Fermin grounded into a double play. San Diego went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and both hits were by France. Taking no chances with a road split, Stammen went to his closer for a six-out save. Miller has said many times he has no trouble with longer outings when his team needs him. He came on for the 8th inning and rolled through Milwaukee’s 2-3-4 hitters on 14 pitches with a pair of strikeouts. In the 9th, he walked Christian Yelich with one out and the Brewers captain got himself into scoring position with a stolen base. Miller, who has been prone to bouts of wildness, then walked Frelick to put the winning run on base with one out. He rallied to get Andrew Vaughn on a routine fly ball to centerfield, but upped the drama with a walk of Gary Sanchez to load the bases for Chourio, the Brewers’ all-time postseason home run leader. It wasn’t a homer. It didn’t have to be. Chourio lined a single up the middle to bring home a pair and set off a wild celebration on the field. This is the first time the Padres have lost back-to-back games since September 1st and 2nd. Game 3 will be Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. in downtown San Diego. Nick Pivetta is on the mound against Dustin May with no more margin for error. One more loss will send the Padres home for the winter. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less