ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Jacob Misiorowski will take the mound Wednesday night with a chance to deliver the Milwaukee Brewers their first World Series championship. The Brewers saw their initial opportunity slip away in Game 4 when Tampa Bay's Ben Williamson hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 12th inning, erasing a one-run lead and forcing a decisive Game 5.
"When you're achieving something like this, it's going to have its adversity," manager Pat Murphy said. "We had some things go our way yesterday. They had some things go their way today. That's the way it is. You just live with it, and if you're a competitor, you wake up tomorrow morning and come ready to play."
Rookie Cooper Pratt nearly authored a storybook ending Tuesday, hitting a solo home run in the top of the 12th and collecting three other hits. His performance highlighted the depth of a Brewers club that blends veteran leadership from Christian Yelich and William Contreras with emerging talent.
Misiorowski, widely expected to win the NL Cy Young Award, has been Milwaukee's brightest star but has yet to fully manifest his dominance in the postseason. His playoff starts: four innings with two earned runs against San Diego in the NLDS; 4⅓ innings with one earned run versus Los Angeles in the NLCS; and five innings with one earned run in World Series Game 1 against Tampa Bay.
The Rays exhausted their bullpen to survive Game 4, using scheduled starter Nick Martinez, closer Bryan Baker for two innings, Ian Seymour, and Cameron Booser. Milwaukee, meanwhile, opted not to bring Misiorowski in relief despite a one-run lead in the 11th inning. "You can't blow that type of situation on a one-run lead on the road," Murphy explained, emphasizing the need to preserve his ace for a potential clincher.
Now the series shifts to Game 5, where Misiorowski will start with the championship on the line. "That loss stinks," reliever Aaron Ashby said. "But it's part of our story. I think the boys are fired up to get back in there Wednesday." Misiorowski appeared equally focused, offering only a head nod to a fan seeking a fist bump as he prepared for his moment.
