The Milwaukee Brewers are one win away from a World Series title, but Game 4 showed exactly why that final win is the hardest to get. Milwaukee leads Tampa Bay 3-1 after Tuesday’s 4-3, 12-inning defeat at Tropicana Field, and Game 5 takes place in St. Petersburg on Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET, according to NBC Sports and EssentiallySports’ schedule listings.
The Brewers are playing in their first World Series in 44 years, having swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Tampa Bay reached the Fall Classic by beating Cleveland 4-2 in the American League Championship Series.
Why Milwaukee should still feel confident
Three wins in four games is no accident. Milwaukee’s bullpen had dominated the postseason before Tuesday’s 12th-inning stumble, and the Brewers’ offence has repeatedly found ways to score against Tampa Bay’s pitching. Rookie Cooper Pratt’s four-hit night in Game 4 underlined the depth in this lineup.
The Brewers also know that a 3-1 series lead is a commanding position. Teams in that spot close out the series far more often than not, and Milwaukee has two more chances in St. Petersburg — plus a return home if the series somehow goes further.
Why Tampa Bay believes
The Rays, though, have new life. They trailed 3-2 in the 12th inning of Game 4 and won with four consecutive singles, capped by Ben Williamson’s walk-off hit. That kind of comeback can change a series, and Tampa Bay’s home crowd — bolstered by a large travelling Milwaukee contingent — produced a memorable atmosphere on Tuesday.
Tampa Bay also returned to its white home jerseys for Game 4 after wearing Devil Rays throwbacks in Game 3, and the Rays are now 3-1 in the home white this October, according to uniform trackers.
The Game 5 question
The central question tonight is whether Milwaukee’s bullpen bounces back or whether Tampa Bay’s late rally was the start of something bigger. If the Brewers win, the champagne comes out in St. Petersburg. If the Rays win again, the series heads back to Milwaukee for Game 6 — and the pressure shifts entirely.
