Brewers lose 1st postseason game in 21 days: 'This stuff is not supposed to be easy'

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  Alden GonzalezOct 28, 2026, 02:22 AM ET

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  ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- When Cooper Pratt led off Tuesday's 12th inning, he was just trying not to strike out. Instead he hit the home run that gave his Milwaukee Brewers the lead and put them three outs away from their first-ever championship.

He had become the first 22-year-old to accumulate four hits in a potential World Series clincher, and he was on the precipice of becoming a hero in Wisconsin.

"That was probably one of the coolest swings of my life," Pratt said, "but it's over."

Actually, when it comes to this World Series, it's not. It's not because the Tampa Bay Rays stormed back in the bottom half, putting the first five baserunners on to win Game 4 in walk-off fashion, 4-3, and avoid a sweep. It's not because the Brewers lost their first postseason game in 21 days. It's not because the Rays would not go down without a fight.

As the Brewers dominated October, winning 10 of their first 11 games and tying a record with eight consecutive victories, it was at times easy to dismiss the difficulty of what they're pursuing.

Not for their players.

"This stuff is not supposed to be easy," Brewers captain Christian Yelich said. "It's supposed to test you."

The biggest test presented itself to Shane Drohan, a journeyman rookie who hadn't pitched in 12 days. He was summoned from the bullpen after Brewers third baseman Joey Ortiz made an errant throw to begin the bottom of the 12th, putting the tying run on, and couldn't help but think about what three more outs might mean.

"I'm human," Drohan said. "I know what I was walking into, and I just didn't get the job done."

The first batter Drohan faced, Liam Hicks, hit a hard ground ball to the left side that would have been a double play if Pratt weren't shaded closer to second base to defend against a left-handed hitter. Instead it went through, putting runners on the corners with none out, bringing the infield in and significantly ratcheting the degree of difficulty.

The next batter, Jonny DeLuca, lined a base hit up the middle, tying the score. Chandler Simpson did the same, loading the bases. And then pinch-hitter Ben Williamson hit a chopper so hard it sailed over the head of first baseman Jake Bauers, found the outfield grass and handed the Brewers only their second loss all month. Moments later, Drohan was asked what makes him believe his team could overcome it.

"Because we've done it all year," Drohan said. "We've been the best team in baseball all year."

The outcome might have been different with a little batted-ball luck. The Brewers produced 12 of the 13 hardest-hit balls of the night. Nine of them exceeded 102 mph and went for outs. It might have also been different had Ortiz completed a routine play by throwing accurately to first base on Junior Caminero's grounder.

"I should make that play every f---ing time," Ortiz said.

But he didn't. And the hits didn't fall. And -- for one night, at least -- the Rays proved superior. The Brewers had claimed 18 straight victories when leading at any point in a game, dating back to Sept. 17, tied for the longest single-season streak in franchise history, according to ESPN Research. Now, if they're going to secure the first championship, they're going to have to show more perseverance.

Maybe that's how it's supposed to be.

"It's going to be hard," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. "When you're achieving something like this, it's going to have its adversity."