Rays vs. Brewers MLB World Series Game 2 Live Updates, Results, Highlights and Reaction

About five minutes after first pitch, it felt like this game was over. As good as Tampa Bay had been all season, the idea of the Rays blowing a 4-0 first inning lead did not compute.

But the Brewers just chipped and chipped and chipped away.

Two runs in the bottom of the first. One in the fourth. Another in the sixth. The finisher in the seventh.

JoJo Romero, Dustin May, DL Hall, Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby combined for six scoreless innings of relief.

They had to strand three runners at third base and benefited from Brady Williams' beyond-questionable decision to test Jackson Chourio's arm with Liam Hicks' legs, but they put up goose egg after goose egg to keep the Brewers in the game long enough to pull a win out of their hat.

The bullpen as a whole was phenomenal. However, it was, yet again, Aaron Ashby to the rescue.

Even with All-Star closer Trevor Megill ready to go.

Even after allowing a leadoff double in the ninth inning of a one-run game.

Pat Murphy stuck by the southpaw who has been cosplaying as Harry Houdini all October.

Ashby recorded the final five outs, one day after retiring all five batters he faced in Game 1. He has now gone 15.2 scoreless innings this postseason, recording either a win (one), hold (two) or save (three) in each of his last six appearances.

There hasn't been a relief pitcher named World Series MVP since Mariano Rivera in 1999, but things sure do appear to be trending in that direction.