Tampa Bay Rays ace Drew Rasmussen’s postseason dominance ended abruptly on Saturday night as the Milwaukee Brewers dismantled his command in the fourth inning. After cruising through his first three playoff starts with at least six innings of work, Rasmussen was pulled after 3 2/3 frames, surrendering three runs to a lineup that relentlessly fouled off quality pitches and kept the ball in play. The collapse allowed Milwaukee to erase a 4-0 deficit, ultimately securing a 5-4 victory in Game 2 of the World Series.
Brewers grind Rays starter into submission, seizing momentum in first championship race
The loss snaps Tampa Bay’s momentum, leaving the Rays trailing 2-0 in a series where both franchises are chasing their first-ever World Series title. Rasmussen’s short outing marked his shortest start since a 12-4 loss to the New York Yankees on July 9, a stark contrast to his previous 21 playoff innings where he allowed just three runs. The Brewers capitalized on their strategic approach, forcing Rasmussen to dig deep and eventually succumb to the pressure of a high-stakes matchup.
Rasmussen acknowledged the Brewers’ superior at-bats, crediting their ability to scrap and put pitches in play despite facing quality offerings. “They fouled off some really good pitches. They took some really quality pitchers. They just fought,” Rasmussen said. With the series now tied in terms of championship aspirations but heavily skewed toward Milwaukee, the Rays must regroup immediately to avoid elimination in a best-of-seven series.
Source: Yahoo Sports
