Dustin May in focus as Brewers face Rays in World Series Game 4

Dustin May is in focus as the Milwaukee Brewers face the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the World Series at Tropicana Field. A Brewers win would give the franchise its first championship in its history. The Rays took an early lead in the second inning, with Chandler Simpson driving in a run with a double.

May takes the mound for Milwaukee

ESPN reported before the game that the Brewers were planning to start Dustin May in what could be the World Series clincher. May worked the second inning for Milwaukee. He allowed the Rays' run to score and then retired the side on a strikeout, ending the frame with the Rays ahead 1-0.

Griffin Jax came on in relief in the third inning and recorded a strikeout of David Hamilton to close out his frame. Pat Murphy, the Brewers manager, was heard during the broadcast saying the team's approach against Jax was to keep battling, drive up his pitch count and get him out of the game.

Early chances and key moments

Milwaukee had its opportunities early. Jackson Chourio recorded a one-out single in the third, his ninth hit of this World Series, but was stranded at first. Jake Bauers hit a deep fly ball to left-center that Jonny DeLuca tracked down, a play that the Athletic's expected-batting-average figure put at .770, meaning it would have been a home run in 13 ballparks.

The Rays' run came with a sharp bit of baserunning. In the bottom of the second, Liam Hicks led off with a single to center. Jonny DeLuca then beat out a double-play throw on a grounder to shortstop, and Simpson followed with the RBI double that brought DeLuca home ahead of the throw.

Brewers' postseason pattern

The Brewers have a strong record when trailing early in the postseason. According to The Athletic, the team is 6-1 in postseason games in which its opponent scores first. The Athletic also noted that Milwaukee has come from behind in seven of its playoff wins.

Milwaukee won Game 3 by a 10-1 margin, according to the Athletic's coverage, and Bauers was the only Brewers starter without a hit in that game.

What we know so far

At the time of the reports, Tampa Bay led 1-0 after two and a half innings. May and Jax have kept the Brewers within reach, and the game remains open. Further updates from Tropicana Field are expected as the series continues.

What happens next in the series depends on how Milwaukee's offense responds to Tampa Bay's early lead.