Brewers manager Pat Murphy credited the late broadcaster Bob Uecker for an unexpected boost in the ninth inning, which helped secure a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in the first game of their playoff series on Saturday.

With one out in the ninth and the Brewers holding a slim one-run lead, Ty France launched a drive to left field off closer Trevor Megill. However, the ball struck a roof cable, remained in play, and was caught by Jackson Chourio for the second out. Megill then retired Jackson Merrill on a fly ball to right field, sealing Milwaukee's win.

Murphy humorously suggested that Uecker had a hand in the outcome:

I think the only thing that you could probably figure on the ball that everybody’s going to be talking about is that [Uecker] decided to put his hand on it and swat it down so Chourio could catch it. So thanks, Ueck.

The ground rules at American Family Field state that a batted ball striking the roof or any cabling over fair territory remains in play. The Padres challenged the call, but the ruling of an out was upheld.

Craig Stammen, Padres manager, expressed disappointment, believing the ball would have been a home run without the cable interference, while Murphy contended it would have gone foul.

Chourio, who had earlier hit a two-run homer to tie the game, commented on the play, stating, "I wasn’t all that sure of what the rule was... I thought I had a bead on it for the majority of the time."

This incident marks the second time this season the Padres faced a similar situation; in August, Xander Bogaerts lost a potential home run to a catwalk at Tropicana Field.

In other playoff action, the Tampa Bay Rays shut out the New York Yankees 1-0, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Atlanta Braves 5-3, and the Chicago White Sox triumphed over the Cleveland Guardians 3-0.