The Tampa Bay Rays came up short in the World Series, but Kevin Cash was not shy about giving credit where it was due. After the Milwaukee Brewers closed out a 4-1 win in Game 5 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field to capture the first championship in franchise history, the Rays manager singled out the unit that gave his team fits all series long.

Cash said the Brewers have “as elite of a bullpen as I’ve ever seen,” via MLB Network.

It is hard to argue with him. Milwaukee’s relievers were a constant thorn in Tampa Bay’s side, repeatedly slamming the door in close games and stranding runners in big spots.

Aaron Ashby was the headliner. The left-hander did not allow a run through his first 15 2/3 innings of the postseason, putting him second all-time for the most consecutive scoreless innings to begin a postseason, behind only Andrew Miller’s 16 in 2016. He also collected three saves, including the final out of Game 2 with the tying run on third base.

Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe were just as reliable at the back end. Megill survived a tense ninth inning in Game 1, striking out Jonny DeLuca after a game-ending double play was overturned on replay. Uribe, meanwhile, picked up the win in Game 2 with 1 1/3 hitless innings.

The bullpen came through once again in the clincher. Jacob Misiorowski tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings before exiting with a cramp in his right calf, and Milwaukee’s relievers took it from there. Tampa Bay finally scratched across a run in the ninth, but Megill closed it out when Richie Palacios grounded out to end the series.

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Cash’s comments carry extra weight coming from a manager who has built his reputation on bullpen management. The Rays have long been known for their deep, creative relief corps, and Bryan Baker anchored their own bullpen with 41 saves this season.

Still, there was no answering Milwaukee. The Brewers won three games in the series by three runs or fewer, with their bullpen protecting late leads each time.

The Rays will head into the offseason looking to bounce back, while the Brewers can celebrate a championship that their relief corps helped deliver.