Brewers on the Brink of World Series Title After Game 2 Comeback

There’s a saying that a postseason series really kicks off when the visiting team steals a win. The Tampa Bay Rays might be wishing that this Fall Classic doesn’t conclude too quickly, considering the Milwaukee Brewers are just two victories away from clinching their first-ever World Series title, following a thrilling comeback in Game 2 at home.

After their Game 1 setback on Friday, the Rays came out swinging, scoring four runs in the first inning. Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero both had RBI singles, while Liam Hicks launched a two-run homer. But the Brewers were undeterred, clawing back to narrow the lead with RBI singles from William Contreras and Garrett Mitchell in the bottom of the first.

The starting pitchers, Logan Henderson and Drew Rasmussen, combined for only 6.2 innings. Rasmussen was pulled in the fourth inning after the bases were loaded and gave up another run, but the threat ended when Christian Yelich grounded out. Despite some struggles, the Brewers’ bullpen tightened up, keeping the Rays scoreless for the remainder of the game.

Things really turned in the bottom of the sixth when Sal Frelick opened the inning with a lefty-on-lefty solo shot off Ian Seymour after a lengthy nine-pitch at-bat, making the score 4-4. In the seventh, Cooper Pratt then brought in Brice Turang, putting Milwaukee ahead 5-4.

In the eighth, the Brewers had a chance to extend their lead when they placed runners on second and third with Contreras at the plate, but were unable to capitalize. The Rays were threatening too, as Johnny DeLuca led off the ninth with a double, positioning the tying run just 90 feet away.

Yandy Díaz stepped up to bat with two outs and DeLuca on third. The game ended in controversy when the first-base umpire ruled that Díaz didn’t check his swing on a 3-2 pitch, preserving Aaron Ashby’s remarkable scoreless postseason streak at 15.2 innings.

This decision could have gone either way, with Jonathan Aranda, hitting .310 in the playoffs, ready to bat next, along with Simpson and Caminero following him in the lineup.

Overall, Milwaukee outhit Tampa Bay 11 to 7, but interestingly, three of those Rays’ hits were in the first inning alone. After that, they were shut down entirely.

Historically, the last team to win the World Series after dropping the first two games was the 1996 New York Yankees. They lost both at home before rallying to win four straight. Teams that win the first two games in a best-of-seven postseason series have an impressive record of 79-16 historically.

Looking ahead, Game 3 is set to take place in Tampa Bay on Monday night.