Brewers Near Sweep as Tampa Bay Seeks Historic Comeback

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Brewers’ Dominance Leaves the Rays Searching for a Way Back

The Brewers are expected to win the series, whether it takes five, six or seven games. Of the 25 teams that have taken a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven baseball series, 21 completed the four-game sweep. Only four were pushed to a fifth game.

The Rays can find some hope in the Red Sox’s comeback against the Yankees. They remain the only baseball team to rally from a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series. In Game 3 of that series, Boston suffered an 18-7 loss at home before beginning its comeback. Tampa Bay now faces a similar situation after a 10-1 defeat in Game 3.

However, the comparison may be more like apples and oranges because of Milwaukee’s dominance at home. The Brewers have the best home record and postseason home record, and they have consistently found ways to win in their own park. They have trailed in seven postseason games and won six of them.

It is still possible to imagine Tampa Bay extending the series to six or seven games. The Rays could reward their home fans with a win, or even take two games before returning to Milwaukee. Still, after falling behind 3-0, their chances of winning the series appear remote. Facing Misierowski in Game 5 would only make the challenge more difficult.

Game 3 initially looked like a low-scoring contest, but Milwaukee’s lineup came alive the second time through the order. The Brewers repeatedly delivered hits to all parts of the field rather than relying on home runs. Their disciplined approach at the plate produced hit after hit and quickly turned the game into a rout.

Tampa Bay’s decision to remove Peralta also drew scrutiny. He had allowed seven hits and three walks over four and two-thirds innings while throwing 87 pitches. With two outs, two runners on and the Rays trailing 2-0 in the fifth inning, there was an argument for allowing him to finish the inning.

The concern was that most of the damage occurred after Peralta left the game. Although Tampa Bay has a strong bullpen and Bowser entered with an ERA around one, the old-school view was that the starter should have been given an opportunity to escape the inning. If another hit had made it 3-0, then a pitching change would have been easier to accept.