Tuesday, 4 a.m.

Was it all a mirage?

All of moments, all of the victories, all of the speed, all of the reseilience of the Tampa Bay Rays' season? Did we imagine it all? Was it all a mass halluciantion? The AL East title? The best record in the American League? The magic? The electricity? The possibilities?

It all seems to have vanished into the back pockets of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers embarrassed the Rays Monday night, 10-1. After losing a pair of one-run games, the Rays gave up 16 hits and were routed.

The result leaves Milwaukee with a 3-0 lead in the World Series. The Rays would have sweep to avoid losing their third World Series in franchise history.

The Rays started the nihgt off with a single by Yandy Diaz. They didn't get another hit until Cedric Mullins single in the ninth inning. Diaz drove him in with a double, but by then, the Rays were impossibly behind. The Brewers scored eight times in the fifth inning with seven two-out hits.

The Rays will turn to Griffin Jax to try to avoid a sweep tonight.

Starting pitching, so strong for the Rays in the regular season, struggled again. Freddy Peralta, the MVP of the AL Championship, lastted just 4 2/3 innings and gave up seven hits and five of the runs.

In three games, the Rays' starters of Nick Martinez, Drew Rasmussen and Perealta have gone just 13.1 innnings and have Gavin up 18 hits and 10 earned runs. The Rays have had just 17 hits, one more than Milwaukee had Monday night.

None of the Rays' strengths have shown up in the Series. Not the pitching, not the hitting, not the speed, not the defense.

Tonight's game will be at 8 at Tropicana Field. The Brewers have not announced a starter to go against Jax.