The Milwaukee Brewers may be best defined by their resiliency. Throughout the postseason, they have shown that they don’t rattle easily and that no deficit is too much. That was the case again in Game 2 as the Rays landed the first punch only to watch the Brewers chip away and score five unanswered runs to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

Both teams came into the series regarded as two of the best defensive teams in the postseason. However, defensive miscues played a huge role in Game 2. Yandy Diaz reached on a throwing error by shortstop Cooper Pratt to start the game. The throw skipped past Jake Bauers at first and into the camera well which allowed Diaz to move to second base. Logan Henderson struck out Jonathan Aranda for the first out, but then allowed a single to Chandler Simpson to give Tampa their first lead of the series.

The Rays kept the pressure on with Simpson stealing second and then coming around to score on a single by Junior Caminero. That brought Liam Hicks to the plate who teed off on an 0-1 cutter from Henderson and drove it out for a two-run home run to extend the lead to 4-0.

The Rays had the fast start that they needed and had to feel confident with ace Drew Rasmussen on the mound. However, the Brewers didn’t flinch. Jackson Chourio and Jake Bauers singled to put runners at the corners. Rasmussen struck out Christian Yelich but William Contreras delivered again with an RBI single to make it 4-1. Two batters later, Garrett Mitchell singled to bring home another run to cut Tampa’s lead in half.

Milwaukee continued to chip away in the fourth. Pratt walked with one out and then moved to third on a single by Sal Frelick. David Hamilton then sent a grounder to Aranda, who misplayed it for an error. Pratt scored to make it 4-3.

The Rays almost manufactured another run in the sixth. DL Hall hit Hicks with a pitch to start the inning. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout by Jonny DeLuca, Victor Mesa Jr. singled to left, but Hicks was thrown out at the plate by Chourio.

That set the stage for an unlikely hero. Sal Frelick had just four home runs all season but he jumped on a 3-2 pitch from Rays reliever Ian Seymour and drove it over the wall in center for a game-tying home run.

Milwaukee kept the pressure on in the seventh as Brice Turang led off the inning with a double. He moved to third on a fly out and then scored as Pratt redeemed himself with a clutch single to give the Brewers a 5-4 lead.

Aaron Ashby has been one of the best pitchers throughout the postseason. He recorded the final two outs in the eighth and then stayed in to start the ninth for the Brewers. The Rays wouldn’t go quietly though as DeLuca hooked one into the corner for a double to start the inning. Ashby struck out Mesa Jr. and then got pinch hitter Ben Williamson to ground out to second. With closer Trevor Megill warming, Murphy elected to stick with Ashby to face Diaz with the tying run at third. Diaz worked the count full but was then rung up on a check swing by the first base umpire to end the game.

Throughout the postseason, Milwaukee’s bullpen has been a weapon and that was the case again in Game 2. After throwing 35 pitches in the first inning, Henderson was only able to make it through three innings. From there, five Brewers relievers held the Rays scoreless over the final six innings of the game. Ashby extended his scoreless streak in the postseason to 15 2/3 innings.

The series will now shift to Tampa Bay for Games 3, 4 and 5 if necessary. It is still far from over, but it felt like the Brewers took the Rays best shot in Game 2 and still were able to come away with a 2-0 lead.