Brewers Lead Slips Away in Game 4 as Rays Force Game 5

The Milwaukee Brewers were one inning away from their first World Series title on Tuesday night in St. Petersburg. Milwaukee held a 3-2 lead in the 12th, but the Rays scored twice to win 4-3 and force a Game 5. The loss came after Aaron Ashby retired all seven batters he faced, setting a new record for scoreless relief innings in a single postseason.

Milwaukee took the lead in the 12th when rookie Cooper Pratt hit a solo home run to make it 3-2. On the first batter of the bottom of the inning, third baseman Joey Ortiz committed a throwing error on Junior Caminero's grounder. Ortiz entered the game as a substitute after David Hamilton was removed for a pinch hitter.

Rookie left-hander Shane Drohan then allowed four straight singles to Liam Hicks, Jonny DeLuca, Chandler Simpson, and pinch-hitter Ben Williamson. This sequence gave Tampa Bay two runs and the win. Drohan had not pitched since Oct. 15 against the Dodgers. He finished the regular season with a 4.19 ERA in 33 appearances, including 19 starts.

Manager Pat Murphy had used six pitchers before turning to Antonio Senzatela. Senzatela finished the 11th inning after Murphy pulled Ashby with one out in that frame. Murphy said he removed Ashby because the pitcher's velocity dropped over 31 pitches. Ashby reached 99 mph, but his speed declined as he threw more.

Ashby passed Andrew Miller's record for scoreless innings in one postseason. Miller threw 16 scoreless innings for Cleveland in 2016. Ashby finished the game with 18 scoreless innings over nine postseason appearances. He allowed five hits, walked three, and struck out 20 batters in October.

Ortiz took responsibility for the throwing error. "I've got to make that play. Just no excuse about it, no matter what anyone says," Ortiz said. Drohan also addressed the loss. "I'm human. I knew what I was walking into. I just didn't do the job there," Drohan said.

The Brewers play Game 5 on Wednesday night with Jacob Misiorowski starting. Milwaukee's relievers have allowed nine earned runs over 61 2/3 postseason innings. Closer Trevor Megill struck out the only batter he faced in the eighth inning and is available for Game 5.