Booser Reflects on 'Worst Feeling' After World Series Meltdown

Tampa Bay Rays reliever Cam Booser expressed deep disappointment following his performance in Game 3 of the World Series, calling the experience the "worst feeling in the world, feeling like you let your team down." Booser entered the game in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and two outs, with the Rays trailing the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0. Instead of escaping the jam, he allowed four runs, contributing to a historic eight-run inning for the Brewers with two outs. This marked the first time a team had scored that many runs under such circumstances in World Series history.

Brice Turang's single off shortstop Taylor Walls' glove broke the scoring open, giving Milwaukee a 4-0 lead. Walls acknowledged the play, stating, "Those are plays that you’d like to make, that you expect to make even though they may be on the tougher end. That was pretty much the turning point in the game there." One pitch later, Garrett Mitchell drove in Willson Contreras with another single, extending the Brewers' advantage to 5-0.

Cooper Pratt continued Milwaukee's rally, hitting a ground ball past a diving Junior Caminero that scored two runs and made it 7-0. Sal Frelick then added an RBI double off a 95 mph fastball from Booser, bringing home Pratt and giving the Brewers an 8-0 lead. In total, Booser allowed four consecutive hits without recording an out before being removed by Rays manager Kevin Cash.

The Milwaukee Brewers went on to win the game 10-1, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead. Historically, teams that fall behind 3-0 in the World Series have struggled to recover. Of the 25 previous teams to face such a deficit, 21 were swept, and four lost in five games. Only one team, the 2004 Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series, has come back from a 3-0 deficit in any best-of-seven postseason series.

"It’s kind of that chip and a chair mentality," Cash said of his team's situation. "We’ve got a seat at the table. We’ve got to do something with the chip. Obviously the only thing we can do is win tomorrow." The Rays are scheduled to play Game 4 of the World Series against the Brewers on Tuesday evening.