Milwaukee Brewers had a great chance for a clean sweep of the World Series, but Tampa Bay Rays had other plans

Milwaukee Brewers started with an excellent opportunity to complete a clean sweep of the World Series in Game 4 against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday (October 28), having entered the matchup with a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. One more win would have secured the franchise its first-ever World Series title.

However, the Rays had other plans. They fought back in a tightly contested marathon game that went to 12 innings before Tampa emerged with a 4-3 victory. This marked their first win of the series, keeping their championship hopes alive.

Even as the Milwaukee Brewers failed to complete a clean sweep of the World Series, the series still stands at 3-1 in its favor.

What happened in the game?

The Rays took the lead first, opening the scoring in the 2nd inning on a Chandler Simpson double that scored Jonny Deluca from first base. The Brewers answered back, leveling the proceedings similarly in the 4th inning. Sal Frelick and Pratt were involved, with the rookie getting the double.

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It was short-lived as Tampa made it 2-1, thanks to Junior Caminero, who benefited from a poor throw by third baseman David Hamilton. The Brewers missed the tag and gifted a point.

Milwaukee again bounced back, and it was Hamilton who redeemed himself for his error. He hit a solo home run off Griffin Jax to tie the game. This was just the third home run of the entire World Series.

The Rays managed to take the game all the way to the ninth inning, thanks to their pitching as they continued to struggle offensively against the Brewers' formidable bullpen. JoJo Romero, Abner Uribe, DL Hall, Trevor Megill and Aaron Ashby pitched together for 7 1/3 shutout innings. Ashby made history after pitching 2 1/3 shutout innings.

Tampa managed to take the game to extra innings. After another two innings without either team scoring, it was rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt who sent Seymour’s pitch into the stands in the top of the 12th, causing delirium among travelling Brewers fans who believed a clean sweep was on the cards for their team.

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But Seymour reined Milwaukee in, stopping them from breaking it open. Then the visitors’ defense committed their second error of the game, allowing Tampa to come back in the bottom of the 12th. It was pinch-hitter Ben Williamson who did the unthinkable, hitting a game-winning RBI into right field for a walk-off single. The Rays live for another day.

No team that has taken a 3-0 lead in the World Series has gone on to lose two consecutive games. The defeat broke the Brewers' 8-game winning streak, and marked only their second loss of the postseason.

Although the Rays survived elimination and forced the fifth game, Milwaukee firmly remains in control of the series. No MLB team has ever overcome a 3-0 deficit to win the World Series. THE only team to rally from such a deficit and win a 7-game series was the Boston Red Sox in the 2004 ALCS against the New York Yankees.

The Brewers could clinch the World Series at Tropicana Field today, but the sweep is now off the table for them. The last team to sweep a Fall Classic was the San Francisco Giants, who defeated the Detroit Tigers in four games in 2012.