MILWAUKEE – In a dramatic turn of events during the National League Division Series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres’ Ty France believed he had just hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning. However, Brewers’ manager Pat Murphy was less optimistic, predicting that the ball would go foul. As it turned out, neither assumption was correct.
In a moment that will be remembered in the 25-year history of American Family Field, France’s towering fly ball struck a cable on the stadium’s roof. Instead of sailing over the left-field wall, the ball fell directly into the glove of Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio, resulting in the second out of the inning.
One out later, the Brewers clinched a 3-2 victory, gaining an early lead in their best-of-five series.
“We joked about it at the umpire meeting today about what would happen if the ball hit the roof,” said Padres manager Craig Stammen. “And it was unlikely — but it happened.”
What made this play particularly unusual is that it marked the first time in four years that Brewers closer Trevor Megill had witnessed such an occurrence. “I had no idea what the ruling was until the home plate umpire came up and told me it’s a live ball, no matter what,” Megill stated.
According to the stadium’s ground rules, any ball that strikes the roof or its cables in fair territory is considered a fair ball and can be caught for an out. The Padres did challenge the ruling, arguing that France’s drive should have been a foul ball, but their appeal was unsuccessful.
“Unfortunately, a bad break for us. Looked like it was a possible home run. Just didn’t go our way,” Stammen reflected.
France’s impactful drive was notable for its impressive statistics, leaving the bat at a speed of 105.3 mph with a 49-degree launch angle, ultimately caught 325 feet from home plate.
Megill, who was on the mound when France made contact, shared his initial reaction: “Oh, crap. I’ll keep it PG for you.”
Historically, no home run has ever been recorded at American Family Field with a launch angle exceeding 46 degrees since Statcast began tracking data in 2015. Only ten home runs have been hit over the fence at any major league ballpark during that time with a launch angle of 49 degrees or higher.
France, confident that his drive would have cleared the left-field wall, expressed his disappointment. “The biggest question was, was it going to stay fair or foul? I thought I back-spun it, and it was going to stay fair. I knew it was going out. It was just unfortunate,” he said.
Murphy, however, had a different view. “It was going to be a foul ball, for sure. I’m standing right on that line,” he remarked, suggesting that a player of France’s caliber deserved another chance at bat.
Chourio, who caught the ball, admitted uncertainty about the ruling. “I wasn’t all that sure of what the rule was, and I wasn’t really all that sure that it actually did hit anything,” he said through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert. “I thought I had a chance on that ball kind of the whole time off the bat.”
Megill went on to secure a four-out save by retiring Jackson Merrill, sealing the Brewers’ victory.
This isn’t the first time American Family Field’s roof has influenced a Brewers playoff game. Back in 2008, Milwaukee’s Craig Counsell caught a pop fly from Philadelphia’s Jayson Werth that hit the roof during the NL Division Series.
Interestingly, the Padres have faced similar misfortune earlier this season. On August 28, Xander Bogaerts lost a potential homer when his drive struck the catwalk at Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field, caught by Rays third baseman Junior Caminero. Statcast had projected that drive to travel 386 feet.
This sequence of events has led France to question whether better measures could be put in place to clarify such unique situations. “You would think with all the technology and data and everything we have now, we’d be able to make a clear call on that,” he suggested, highlighting the need for potential rule changes in the future.
France’s lost opportunity has also opened the door for lighthearted banter with Megill, with whom he shares a long-standing friendship from their time in Southern California. “Him and I go way back. We played on the same high school scout ball team, so I’ve known him for a long time,” France reminisced.
As the Padres reflect on this unexpected twist of fate, Murphy humorously acknowledged the legacy of beloved broadcaster Bob Uecker, who passed away less than two years ago. “Ueck decided to put his hand on it and swat it down so Chourio could catch it,” Murphy quipped. “So thanks, Ueck.”
___
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
