Padres' Mason Miller denies pitch tipping after blown save to Brewers

Mason Miller pushed back Monday on social media claims that he was tipping pitches during the Padres' 4-3 Game 2 loss to the Brewers, a blown save in the ninth inning of the NLDS. Whether Miller actually tipped pitches is not confirmed; the allegations are based entirely on social media posts.

"I don't really know what to make of it," Miller said via MLB.com. "I feel like there was only one pitch that it would have had an impact. If you're tipping your pitches and it's a ball -- I just don't think it had anything to do with the walks. I also have a hard time believing I just magically started doing it."

Miller threw only four-seam fastballs and sliders, so any tell would have identified one pitch or the other to Brewers hitters. He got five outs and allowed just one hit, but he walked three batters, with most of the misses being bad misses. He appeared gassed in his second inning of work, and command typically goes before velocity when a pitcher tires.

Miller did acknowledge one swing that stood out to him. On a 1-2 slider, Jackson Chourio laid off with an excellent take that Miller called "a really confident take." Chourio later delivered the game-winning hit.

WHAT HAPPENED IN GAME 2

The Brewers rallied with two outs in the ninth inning on Sunday, turning a 4-3 loss into a 4-3 victory over the Padres. Miller recorded five outs and surrendered just one hit, but he walked three batters, with most of the misses being bad ones.

He appeared gassed in his second inning of work. Any pitcher will tell you that when fatigue sets in, command goes before velocity — and Miller's command was clearly off.

Whether fatigue was the sole cause of the walks is not confirmed; it's Miller's explanation and general pitching belief. The Padres have not offered a different reason, but the tipping theories from social media don't line up with what Miller saw on the mound.

The one pitch that stood out to him came against Jackson Chourio. On a 1-2 slider, Chourio laid off with a take Miller called "a really confident take." Later in the at-bat, Chourio delivered the game-winning hit.

That hit gave the Brewers a 2-0 series lead in the NLDS. The Padres, the best team in baseball per the source, now face elimination in Game 3.