The San Diego Padres lost a potential home run in the ninth inning on Saturday night when Ty France’s powerful drive struck an overhead cable at American Family Field, allowing the Milwaukee Brewers to escape with a victory in their postseason series opener. The unusual play unfolded against a backdrop of home dominance for the Brewers, who finished the regular season with 103 wins and a 55-26 record at home.
How the Ninth-Inning Roof Contact Ended the Padres’ Rally
With the Padres trailing in the top of the ninth inning, veteran first baseman Ty France connected solidly against Milwaukee reliever Trevor Megill. France drove the ball deep toward left field, where it struck a cable fixed to the roof structure of American Family Field. The deflection altered the ball’s trajectory, dropping it directly into the glove of Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio for the second out of the frame.
FOX Sports: MLB captured the strange sequence on social media as the play unfolded:
Oh. My. Goodness. This ball hit by France looked to potentially be a go-ahead home run, but it hit the roof and was caught, and was ruled an out.
FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 4, 2026
While the exact destination of the batted ball remains uncertain, the contact appeared to carry enough distance for a solo home run that would have tied the score 3-3. Following the unusual putout, Jackson Merrill grounded out to end the game.
Official Major League Baseball Rules on Roof and Cable Hits
The ruling on the field adhered strictly to the established guidelines governing indoor ballparks. The Major League Baseball rulebook explicitly addresses batted balls striking stadium infrastructure in fair territory.
“Une balle touche le plafond, la charpente du toit ou un câble en territoire valide : si [elle est] attrapée, le frappeur est retiré et les coureurs peuvent avancer à leurs propres risques,” the rulebook states, governing instances where a ball hitting a ceiling fixture or cable remains live if caught by a fielder.
The Brewers secured their three runs earlier in the contest via home runs. Jackson Chourio provided a two-run shot in the bottom of the third inning, and William Contreras delivered the decisive blow with a home run in the seventh inning.
What Comes Next in the Division Series
The Padres look to rebound in the second game of the division series. Game 2 is scheduled to be broadcast on TVA Sports 2 starting at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
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