cbs42
In Game 4 of the World Series on Tuesday night, Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby established a new benchmark for consecutive scoreless innings by a relief pitcher in a single postseason. The 27-year-old achieved the feat with a flawless ninth inning, retiring all three batters he faced in order.
Ashby continued his dominance with a perfect 10th inning, then retired the first batter in the bottom of the 11th before exiting. He has now thrown 18 scoreless innings across nine appearances this October, breaking the previous record of 16 set by Andrew Miller in 2016 for Cleveland.
With the score tied 2-2 in the 11th, the Brewers were seeking to secure the franchise's first World Series championship, holding a 3-0 series lead over the Tampa Bay Rays.
During the regular season, Ashby compiled a 13-3 record with a 3.12 ERA in 71 relief outings. In the postseason, he has been virtually unhittable, surrendering just five hits and three walks while striking out 20 batters.
Including the regular season, Ashby has now tossed a career-best 22 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings. This run of success comes after previous postseason struggles, where he allowed nine runs (eight earned) over 9 1/3 innings in 10 appearances spanning 2021, 2024, and 2025.
Milwaukee's bullpen as a whole has been exceptional, yielding only eight earned runs in 61 postseason innings.
Key Analysis
Ashby's record-breaking performance underscores the critical role of relief pitching in the postseason. His turnaround from earlier October struggles highlights his resilience and ability to perform on the biggest stage. The Brewers' bullpen has been a cornerstone of their success, and Ashby's historic streak adds to the team's impressive run as they close in on a championship.
Originally reported by cbs42.