MILWAUKEE -- The celebratory fireworks had been set off, spreading a layer of smoke across the diamond at American Family Field. Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days” blasted through the speakers, providing a soundtrack for workers scurrying to erect a television set for the postgame show.
There was just one problem: The Brewers hadn’t won. Not officially, anyway.
A replay review overturned what looked like a game-ending double play in Friday’s Game 1 of the World Series, forcing Milwaukee to get the final out all over again. Trevor Megill returned to the mound and struck out Jonny DeLuca to seal a 3-2 win over the Rays.
“We talk about it all the time: When there’s a challenge, do not walk off the mound,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He kept his composure, and that was the biggest at-bat of the game.”
The odd conclusion came after Junior Caminero walked to load the bases against Megill, who had permitted a pair of one-out singles ahead of a double steal by Chandler Simpson and Jorge Mateo.
Liam Hicks chopped Megill’s first pitch to second baseman Brice Turang, who spun and fed shortstop Cooper Pratt for a forceout. Pratt tossed on to first base to complete the apparent double play -- one that would end Milwaukee’s 44-year wait for a fresh World Series victory.
The Rays paused the party with a replay challenge.
“Obviously, it was close, but I didn’t think it was enough to overturn,” Pratt said. “I wasn’t really thinking anything of it. From the angle I saw, my cleat was dragging. There must have been some other angles I haven’t seen.”
Megill said he initially thought the challenge would be at first base: “Maybe a bobble or something. But it was pretty clear once the replay went up that it was going to be the play at second base.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash said that replay coordinator Nick Rogers “did a good job of recognizing that it was really close.”
“In the moment, I don't think he thought too strongly about it,” Cash said. “At that point, why not challenge it?”
As members of both teams lingered on the infield grass, replay angles showed Pratt’s right foot came off the bag as he received Turang’s throw -- by the slimmest of margins, perhaps, but the old “neighborhood play” is no more.
“No, we want to get it right,” Murphy said. “MLB makes rule changes for the better. They just do. Then things happen, and then they make another adjustment and another adjustment.
“Let's get it right. Let's not call the neighborhood play. What is the neighborhood? How big is your neighborhood? I think they got it right. Even if we gave up two runs there and we lose the game and we're sitting here and we're all dejected, the rule is put in place for the right reason, to get it right.”
Standing on deck, wondering if he’d get a chance to hit, DeLuca said he eyed the large center-field video board along with 43,250 interested observers.
“I didn't know if they were seeing a spike on there. I didn't know what was going to happen,” DeLuca said. “We were just kind of waiting for it. There were a few angles where it looked like he was off.”
The footage was scrutinized frame by frame, including a zoomed-in version that Megill acknowledged “didn’t look too good.”
Officials in New York agreed. The call was overturned, making it a one-run game, with Mateo scoring on the resulting fielder’s choice.
“Once I saw the replay a couple times, I felt like it was going to get overturned,” Cash said. “And then I felt good about Jonny going up there against Megill with two outs.”
The delay, DeLuca said, was “obviously not ideal.”
“This is a game of momentum, and in that place, you're not really sure if the game's ending or you're getting an opportunity,” DeLuca said. “That’s why we have the challenge system, and that's why it's great. You’ve just got to hype yourself back up.”
Megill did. Amid the clearing smoke, the right-hander got the 27th out that Milwaukee needed, striking out DeLuca on a knuckle curve.
“That's all right. I picked up Cooper there, and he'll pick us up tomorrow,” Megill said.
Then came the fireworks again, followed by Springsteen and the television set, too. This time, no one interrupted the celebration. Milwaukee had waited 44 years; what were a few more minutes, anyway?
“That’s baseball,” Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski said. “I’d rather have the reviews and get the close plays right than have it be a guess and end up an unknown.”