MILWAUKEE — Trevor Megill induced the game-ending double play Friday night and screamed. The sellout crowd roared. Fireworks went off. Brewers players hugged. GM Matt Arnold was high-fiving friends and employees in his suite.
The Brewers had just won Game 1 over the Tampa Bay Rays, their first World Series victory in 44 years.
Then, as Megill stomped off the mound, he noticed the umpiring crew starting to huddle.
The Tampa Bay Rays were challenging.
“I didn’t think it was a big deal," Megill said. “It was the last out of the game, so what did they have to lose? I thought they were just challenging the call at first base.
Nuh-uh.
The Rays were challenging the play at second too. Rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt’s foot barely lifted off the base as he turned
what appeared to be the game-ending double play.
Megill paused, stood on the field, looked at second base umpire James Hoye, who was on the headset with the New York replay booth, and said, “Hey, what are you hearing?"
“He said, 'Whatever, not too good,' Megill recalled. “ “You want to throw some baseballs.’ ’’
Megill, now assuming the worst, kept throwing warm-up pitches. The crowd kept holding its breath. Suddenly, there was an entire stadium full of angst.
“You got to think worst-case scenario there," Megill said. “Once the replay went up that it was on the play at second base, and zoomed in, it didn’t look good."
The game was not over.
Junior Caminero was safe at second base. Chandler Simpson was at third base. And a run scored.
The apparent 3-1 victory suddenly became a 3-2 lead with runners on second and third. Two outs. And Jonny DeLuca at the plate.
Brewers catcher William Contreras, called the team's MVP of the postseason by Brewers manager Pat Murphy with his two hits, RBI, and two caught stealings, went to the mound to make sure that Megill was ok. Megill assured him that he was fine, but, hey, who was the next batter again.
It was DeLuca, their No. 6 hitter, who hit 11 homers during the season.
“This is a game of momentum," DeLuca said. “In that place, you’re not sure if the game is ending or if you’ll get an opportunity."
Said Rays manager Kevin Cash: “Once I saw a replay a couple of times, I felt like it was going to get overturned. And felt good about Jonny going up there against Megill with two outs.’’
Megill, who was just celebrating a few minutes earlier, suddenly had to regain his composure, Pratt had to take deep breaths and pray that Megill would prevent the most painful mistake of his professional career.
Megill raised everyone’s blood pressure at American Family Field when he fell behind 2-and-1 to DeLuca. He came back a knuckle-curve for strike 2. Then, he threw it again, just below the strikezone. DeLuca swung and missed.
Megill screamed and stomped off the mound.
This time, it counted.
Brewers 3, Rays 2.
“That was crazy," said Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby, who pitched 1 ⅔ perfect innings, and hasn’t allowed a run in 14 innings this postseason. “Just crazy credit to Megill for having that unload of adrenaline and emotion, and then to have that thing overturned and get back out there.
“That was huge. That’s why he’s the guy in the ninth for us. Unbelievable composure out of him. It was special to come back and have that composure.
Said Murphy: "That, was the biggest at-bat of the game."
Can you imagine if the Brewers had lost the game because of the challenge?
Can you imagine how demoralized the Brewers would be knowing they have to face Rays ace Drew Rasmussen in Game 2?
How Pratt would have to live with the blunder if it cost them the World Series?
“Obviously, it was a stressful situation,’’ Megill said.
Just ask Pratt, who immediately ran over to Megill and said "thanks for picking me up.’’
“I just wanted to win so bad," Pratt said. “I felt terrible. I mean, that’s not what you want, especially to end the game. And when we got the last out, I just took a deep breath
“What a huge sigh of relief."
Hey, that’s what teammates are for, right?
“That’s just kind of Brewer baseball, and it’s part of the plan here," Megill said. “Guys are going to have something that don't go the right way, and it's up to the teammates to pick them up. So, you know I'm sure he’ll it'll come through big in the next couple games for us.’’
For now, well, Game 1 was in the books.
It was emotional with the sellout crowd standing and screaming most of the game. And it was heart-stopping.
Yet, the Brewers didn’t wildly celebrate. There was no loud music blaring in the clubhouse. Just relief. Three more victories to go.
“This means a lot, but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t get there,’’ Megill said. “We got three more wins to go. We know it's not done yet.
“It’s just one step in the right direction.’’
Next time, a step that will stay on that bag.
“You better believe it," Pratt said.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heart-stopping replay complicated Brewers' long-awaited World Series win
