Oct 28, 2026 4:41 AM
Updated Oct 28, 2026 4:44 AM
Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy’s aggressive relief strategy backfired in a chaotic 12th-inning collapse against the Tampa Bay Rays.
There aren't many losses this season where Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy should take the blame, but this is one of those.
At a certain point, there's over-managing, and that's exactly what happened in Game 4 of the World Series.
While yes, the Brewers still have a commanding 3-1 series lead, a loss in Game 5 could shift all of the momentum to the Tampa Bay Rays as the final two games return to American Family Field.
In a game that lasted four hours and 20 minutes, it seemed like the Brewers were about to complete a sweep.
Rookie Cooper Pratt hit a towering blast in the top of the 12th inning to put Milwaukee ahead, 3-2.
After an error got things started in the bottom of the 12th, Murphy pulled Antonio Senzatela and went to Shane Drohan for the preferred left-on-left matchups.
Usually that would be the way to do it, but Drohan's only other postseason outing didn't go to plan, and to no surprise, this one didn't either.
Drohan allowed four straight singles to end it
Had this game gone to a 13th inning, the Brewers would've figured it out, but at the end of the day it was probably better that they were defeated in 12.
It's not like Drohan is ever going to be used in the World Series again, barring any super unforeseen circumstance, but Murphy knows he needs as many fresh arms as possible after the way he blew through his pitchers tonight.
The Rays prevailed, 4-3, in a game that could have shifted the momentum of the entire series. Only time will tell, but at least Brewers fans know they have Jacob Misiorowski on the mound in Game 5.
Dustin May was pulled far too soon
Dustin May gave up a pair of runs, but there was no reason to pull him after 39 pitches. The second run he gave up was given up by JoJo Romero, though May was responsible for the runner.
Regardless, Murphy tried to stick to his plan of using an "opener," but it backfired in a big way.
In theory, everyone other than Drohan did their job, but Murphy used far too many pitchers and seemingly pulled every single one at the wrong time.
Trevor Megill was completely wasted as he was only in there for one out, and then Murphy's decision to pull Ashby after 2.1 innings was as puzzling as it gets.
No one is saying Ashby should've stayed out there until the 12th inning, but this is a guy who has been truly unhittable this postseason, and if Murphy rode it out with him through the 11th, then Senzatela could've pitched the entire 12th, and there's a chance none of this would've ever happened.
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