mymotherlode
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby etched his name into postseason history on Tuesday night, setting a new record for the most consecutive scoreless innings by a relief pitcher in a single postseason. Ashby achieved the feat with a flawless ninth inning in Game 4 of the World Series, retiring all three batters he faced in order.
The 27-year-old continued his dominance with a scoreless 10th inning, extending his streak to 17 2/3 innings without allowing a run across nine playoff appearances. The Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays were deadlocked at 2-2 heading into the 11th inning at Tropicana Field.
Milwaukee, which held a commanding 3-0 lead in the series, was just one victory away from capturing the first World Series title in franchise history. Ashby, who posted a 13-3 record with a 3.12 ERA in 71 relief outings during the regular season, has been virtually unhittable this October. He has surrendered only five hits, issued three walks, and struck out 19 batters over his scoreless stretch.
The previous record for the longest streak of consecutive scoreless relief innings within a single postseason belonged to Andrew Miller, who threw 16 such innings for Cleveland in 2016. Including the regular season, Ashby has now tossed a career-best 22 2/3 straight scoreless innings.
Before this remarkable run, Ashby had struggled in the postseason, allowing nine runs (eight earned) over 9 1/3 innings in 10 appearances spanning 2021, 2024, and 2025. Meanwhile, Brewers relievers as a whole have been stellar, permitting just eight earned runs across 60 2/3 postseason innings.
Key Analysis
Ashby's record-breaking performance underscores the critical role of Milwaukee's bullpen in their postseason success. The left-hander's transformation from a shaky playoff performer to an untouchable force highlights his resilience and the Brewers' strategic use of their relief corps. With the series hanging in the balance, Ashby's ability to deliver under pressure has given Milwaukee a significant advantage as they pursue their first championship.
Originally reported by mymotherlode.