Brewers take Game 1 of NLDS after a controversial call on sure-fire home run ball that hit the stadium roof, tell me about this news today
04-10-2026
The Milwaukee Brewers took Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres with a dramatic 3-2 victory at American Family Field, headlined by an extraordinary and controversial ninth-inning ground-rules sequence.
The Play in the 9thTrailing 3-2 in the top of the ninth with a runner on, Padres designated hitter Ty France launched a towering fly ball off Brewers closer Trevor Megill. With an exit velocity of 105 mph and an unusually steep 49-degree launch angle, the drive had the distance and trajectory to carry into the left-field seats for a go-ahead, two-run home run.
Sports IllustratedMid-flight, the ball struck the roof structure and cables over fair territory inside American Family Field. Instead of clearing the fence, the ball deflected straight downward and into the waiting glove of Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio.
The Ruling and ControversyPadres manager Craig Stammen challenged the call immediately:
FOX SportsThe Ground Rule: Under American Family Field ground rules, a batted ball that strikes the roof structure over fair territory remains in play. It is not an automatic dead ball or home run unless it becomes wedged or passes out of reach. If an outfielder catches the deflected ball before it hits the turf, the batter is out.
The Review: Replay confirmed the ball struck in fair territory and was caught cleanly by Chourio, upholding the out on the field.
The bizarre sequence recorded the second out of the frame. Megill then retired Jackson Merrill on a flyout to wrap up the 3-2 win for Milwaukee, giving the Brewers a 1-0 series lead.
FOX SportsWhile the umpires applied the venue-specific ground rule correctly by the book, the play sparked massive debate across the baseball world over whether a batted ball with clear home-run trajectory should be kept in play simply due to retractable-roof architecture in a postseason environment.