NL DIVISION SERIES: PADRES VS BREWERS

October 4, 2026

Pat Murphy

American Family Field

Milwaukee Brewers

Postgame 2 Press Conference

Brewers - 4, Padres - 3

Q. When you look back at that ninth inning, just overall, all the plate appearances against Miller, what stands out to you most about that inning?

PAT MURPHY: Yeah, we're pretty certain we were going to see him today, especially the way the game was going. We knew we were going to see him for more than one inning.

I think our guys were prepared, but nobody's prepared for that good of stuff, you know what I mean? And the at-bats put together by Yelich, Frelick and Sanchez, and Vaughny just missed, clipped it. He was focused.

But those guys have been through it, all those guys have been through that type of situation. What can you say? We had so many guys come through.

But you just look at little things, like Sal coming through today, three times on base, big RBI single, two walks, the great throw to third that goes unnoticed, and then cutting that turn right there. That ball's smashed that Chourio hit and cutting that turn the way he did makes a difference in the game.

Those are the little things. But so many great performances today. One of the favorite games I've been a part of. And what's most gratifying to see how many of our great fans came out to see that one and got to enjoy it themselves. Just happy for the club, happy for the city, that they got to witness something so special.

Q. You've again calling Jackson special since before he debuted at 20 years old. What we've seen over the last two years, what we've seen over the last three postseasons, are we seeing a transformation into something even more than that?

PAT MURPHY: Well, he's starting to realize how he has to play the game. As talented as he is, he's still learning the game.

And the way he played defense this year, I don't know, I don't watch all the other left fielders the way I get to see Jackson, but he's played incredible defense, including today, he made good plays. But he's just coming into his own.

And as a hitter, when he stays under control, it's amazing. He's, I think, turning into a bona fide, top-flight player. Couldn't be happier for him because he brings it every day.

Q. To play all 27 outs and to always feel like you're in the game requires the confidence that you can come back at any point. What is it about this group that has that confidence to remain (indiscernible)?

PAT MURPHY: Yeah, they have a belief. That's what it is. They have a belief. They set it out. Look at Yeli today. He could get down. He hit a ball 106 at 23. And I'm learning that that doesn't mean it goes out of the ballpark, but usually it does. Most 106 at 23 goes out.

And to see the way he stepped up today against a really good ballclub that, their pitching is tremendous, their offense is great.

But we didn't play special. When do you see us make four defensive miscues in a game in the infield, four defensive miscues?

And there's a lot of -- Henderson didn't have his best. We gave up all those free bases. We gave up all those free bases, and we're lucky to stay in the game. And I attribute our pitching staff making quality pitches to keep us in those games. But it's not like us to make those errors.

Q. I'm curious the process to choosing Andrew Vaughn and Gary Sanchez for those at-bats, if that was self-explanatory, obvious to you?

PAT MURPHY: I don't know if it was self explanatory, but I know the Miller guy is one of the best pitchers in the game. Is he not the best reliever in the game? I mean he's gotta be one of them, right? Or he's gotta be one of the top two in the last couple years.

I mean, I respect the heck out of him. I met him before the series, before the first game. And I told him how much I admired him. I love the fact that he's willing to take the ball and do whatever.

I mean, trying to face him, we got two veterans on the bench there, and then we've got two young players that haven't really been full-time big leaguers until this year, Cooper Pratt and Hamilton.

I knew it was going to put our defense in a bind. But I wasn't worried about the 10th inning; I was thinking about the ninth inning or we go home and disappointed.

So yeah, I thought they could give us a veteran at-bat. And that's just what both of them did. Gary's especially, I mean, was special.

Q. Yelich didn't have the regular season that he wanted, but you were pretty firm about staying in his corner through everything that he went through this year. What have you seen from him in these two games so far? And where do you think he's at right now?

PAT MURPHY: Yeah, I don't care how old you are, you can lose confidence. I don't care how old you are, when things continue -- how many balls did he hit this year? He had three homers robbed at least and three other balls that would have been either homers or hit the top of the fence.

And you start looking in the mirror, like, wow, this maybe is not meant to be, whatever. And he'd have so many great seasons for us, including last year.

So just to see his commitment to his teammates, that's leadership. To see his commitment to trying to get better and work at it the way he does. I mean, he's a special cat. There's a reason the organization has been as successful as it's been. Yelich has been a huge part of it.

Q. We've talked a little bit, during the regular season, about the team approach that your guys have on offense, the willingness to pass it off. And you look at the way the ninth inning played out, the three walks, and Sanchez coming up. He's a guy that I think has eight career postseason homers, and sees eight pitches and I don't think he swung. (Indiscernible) does that just speak to the approach that you guys have to maintain?

PAT MURPHY: I mean Gary, I mean we're constantly talking baseball, and Gary is a big part of this team. Anybody that's on the inside in there will tell you that Cracken is real, and he's got tremendous respect. He goes about it every single day the right way.

I was just telling another buddy in another organization about him just today, just the way he handles himself -- incredible, and how serious he is about his profession. I can't say enough about what he brings to the ballclub. And he understands that team thing.

And you've got veterans that understand that. Vaughny is the same way, and Gary. And even Bauers is having a tremendous personal season, like personal best. Still, it's all about the team. It's all about passing the baton.

And you've got to mention Contreras. Once again, doesn't have his best day at the plate, but still catching every pitch, getting us what he can -- catching how many different pitchers today -- five different pitchers today.

JoJo Romero in his first shot in the postseason. Megill coming back-to-back days and wanted to go back out for the 10th, if there was one. Ashby back-to-back days. Uribe back-to-back days.

Great job. How about the play Hamilton made in left field? How about that? Special.

Q. Staying on the topic of pitching there. Logan Henderson just able to battle through -- had some walks early but was able to battle. What did you like about his first postseason start, how he handled everything?

PAT MURPHY: Think about it, the wild pitch, the walk and the wild pitch created the first run. So that's on him. We had two double-play balls in the next inning that's just not typical of our team, and they scored their other run. And the third run, error/walk/base hit is our third run.

He pitched well enough, in my mind he pitched well enough to win, but wasn't at his best because he walked people. He doesn't normally do that.

But it's good to get that over with. That's his first postseason experience, and I'm proud of him.

He's young, like we've got -- that's what's great about the poise that was shown in the ninth inning because it was our veterans in the ninth inning. Sal's not a veteran, but he's aging quickly, so I'll call him a veteran.

But that's Sal Frelick. Whenever you think, well, look at those numbers this year. That's Sal Frelick, just doubt him for a minute and -- doesn't mean I like the kid. Just I believe in him.