The Call That Had Everyone Shook
Game 1 of the National League Division Series between the Padres and the Brewers hit peak chaotic energy on Saturday night. With the Brewers up 3-2 in the ninth, Padres hitter Ty France sent a fly ball soaring—but it didn't land in the seats. Instead, it clipped a cable on the American Family Field roof and dropped straight into the glove of Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio at the warning track.
The Rulebook Reality
Padres manager Craig Stammen challenged the play, but the umpires stood on business. According to the park's ground rules, if a ball hits the roof over fair territory and stays in play, it’s fair game. Since the umpires deemed the ball hit the roof in fair territory, Chourio’s catch was legit, and France was out. No cap, the umpires even discussed this specific scenario at the pre-game meeting—as if they knew it would be a problem.
Was It Actually a Homer?
Highkey, people are asking if France was robbed of a home run. The exit velocity was a solid 105.3 mph, but the launch angle was a massive 49 degrees. Data nerds at Statcast pointed out that in the history of Statcast, no ball with those exact specs has ever cleared the fence for a homer. While some, like Brewers catcher William Contreras, thought it might have gone out, Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy was confident it would’ve drifted foul. Either way, the play ended the threat, and the Brewers took the W.
Why it matters
It’s a tough L for the Padres, but it highlights how weird stadium rules can absolutely change the trajectory of a playoff game in a heartbeat. The plot thickens as the series continues.
