Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy may have cost his team a chance to clinch the World Series
Brewers Lose World‑Series Game 4 in a 12‑Inning Thriller; Manager’s Late‑Inning Call Draws Questions
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Milwaukee Brewers’ 2026 World Series campaign, which had begun with an 8‑game winning streak that saw them defeat the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays, slipped in a dramatic fashion when the team lost Game 4 of the series on a walk‑off run in the bottom of the 12th inning.
The Brewers entered the National League championship series as the nation’s hottest club. They finished the second half of the regular season with 100 victories and finished as the American League’s best team with 98 wins, boasting a high‑powered, star‑filled roster that carried them deep into the playoffs. Their bullpen, anchored by Aaron Ashby, had been a particular point of interest. Ashby, a former setup man, had pitched 18 scoreless innings to start the postseason – a record for the most consecutive scoreless innings by a reliever in MLB history – and had become “the best reliever in postseason history” according to analysts.
In the World Series, the Brewers were 3–0, and the series was in a clinching position for the team. The 12th‑inning drama began in the top half when rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt belted a go‑ahead home run that put Milwaukee ahead. David Hamilton – who had hit only four home runs in 150 regular‑season games – then tied the score with a blast in the bottom of the 12th, putting the Brewers within a single out of their first championship.
The game’s final inning unfolded with a sequence of errors and hits that turned the tide. Junior Caminero reached on an error, followed by Liam Hicks’s single that sent him to third. Jonny DeLuca then singled, tying the game, and Chandler Simpson’s single loaded the bases. The Brewers’ bullpen, already exhausted, was forced to bring in reliever Shane Drohan, who had not appeared in a competitive game since Oct. 15 and had allowed a run in the National League Championship Series earlier in the month. Drohan’s grounder was the turning point: a bounce over first base that found the outfield, giving the Rays a two‑run lead and ending Milwaukee’s hopes of a title.
Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ manager, had taken the decision to bring in Drohan rather than his other relievers – Aaron Ashby, Trevor Megill, D.L. Hall, Abner Uribe and JoJo Romero – and the former had been on the mound for the game. Murphy later explained that he had not wanted to use Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers’ likely National League Cy Young Award winner and the team’s top prospect, in a one‑run, extra‑inning situation while the team held a 3–0 series advantage. “I trust our guys. I trust them. They put themselves in a position to win,” Murphy told reporters after the game, adding that “it’s all hands on deck” for Game 5.
Brewers beat reporter Curt Hogg reported that Murphy had said Misiorowski was “not an option I wanted to burn in a one‑run extra‑innings game while the Brewers had a 3‑0 series lead.” Hogg noted that Misiorowski was slated to start Game 5, a decision that complicated Murphy’s bullpen usage for Game 4. The manager’s choice left many analysts debating whether the Brewers had sacrificed the best chance at clinching the title in favor of preserving Misiorowski for a later game.
The Brewers’ loss has opened a debate over bullpen strategy in the World Series. One line of thinking argues that using a pitcher like Drohan, who had only one competitive outing in the past month, was a risk that paid off because he got three outs and did not allow a run. The other view is that the team was three outs from a championship and that deploying their best available arm, Misiorowski, would have maximized their chances of securing the title immediately and avoiding the uncertainty of a Game 5.
The Brewers remain heavy favorites for the rest of the series, and analysts predict that Misiorowski will be a key contributor if the team wins Game 5. However, the bullpen’s recent use raises concerns about fatigue and availability. Misiorowski’s performance in the postseason will be under scrutiny, especially if the team faces another challenging series against a strong Tampa Bay lineup.
While the Brewers’ World Series run was marred by a heartbreaking loss in Game 4, the season still stands as a testament to a team that achieved 100 wins, dominated the American League, and became a top contender in the National League. Their playoff journey, highlighted by a record‑breaking bullpen and standout performances from players such as David Hamilton and Cooper Pratt, will be remembered for the excitement it delivered, even as the decision in the 12th inning of Game 4 continues to be dissected by fans and analysts alike.
