MILWAUKEE
Trevor Megill managed to strike out Jonny DeLuca with runners on second and third, escaping a tense situation in the ninth inning as the Milwaukee Brewers held on for a 3-2 win against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.
The pivotal strikeout occurred after Tampa Bay’s Liam Hicks seemed to have grounded into a game-ending double play, which was later overturned upon review. Video evidence showed that Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt’s foot had just come off the base as he snagged a high throw from second baseman Brice Turang.
“You really go through a rollercoaster of emotions,” said Milwaukee captain Christian Yelich. “It’s huge for Trev to refocus and make those big pitches after that emotional letdown.”
Jacob Misiorowski, who pitched five innings, contributed one run and four hits, earning the win.
“Not perfect, but good enough to get a win,” he reflected.
Yelich ignited a two-run rally in the first inning with an RBI triple, putting the Brewers ahead for good in front of an enthusiastic sellout crowd, celebrating Milwaukee’s first World Series game since 1982. Jackson Chourio and William Contreras both had two hits, including an RBI single, with Contreras also catching two runners attempting to steal.
This World Series features two teams vying for their first championship since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies claimed victory over the Kansas City Royals. The only other Major League teams without a World Series title include the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, and Seattle Mariners.
The winner of Game 1 has historically gone on to win the World Series about 62.8% of the time.
Trailing 3-1, Tampa Bay had not reached base since the sixth inning until it attempted a comeback in the ninth.
Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson hit back-to-back singles off Megill, placing runners on the corners when a double steal advanced them into scoring position. Rays slugger Junior Caminero walked on a full count, loading the bases.
Hicks then grounded the ball to the right side, and Turang made a solid play to start what was judged a game-ending double play. Celebration erupted, but then the stadium grew quiet as fans watched the replay.
Ultimately, it was confirmed that Pratt had come off the bag during the catch, with Hicks ruled out at first but putting runners at second and third with the Rays down by just one run.
“I thought Coop had him, but I guess I was mistaken,” Misiorowski admitted.
Megill successfully closed it out by striking out DeLuca.
“You just have to refocus,” Yelich said. “It’s the World Series — you have to get it done.”
After sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, the Brewers could set up their rotation as they wished, opting to start Misiorowski, a strong candidate for the NL Cy Young Award.
Misiorowski kicked off the game by throwing the fastest pitch in World Series history at 103.5 mph to Yandy Díaz but finished with only three strikeouts, which is a season-low.
“He’s incredibly talented and a special pitcher,” Rays manager Kevin Cash stated. “Getting him out after five innings feels like a small victory, but they have an elite bullpen that came in and kept us quiet.”
While the Brewers went with their ace, Tampa Bay chose Nick Martinez, giving some All-Star pitchers more rest. Martinez struck out five in five innings, but a slow start put them in a tough spot.
Chourio hit a single right away, and Yelich brought him home with a triple to center field. DeLuca made a close attempt at a diving catch but ended up just missing the ball.
“I thought Jonny covered a lot of ground,” Cash noted. “We didn’t do too much wrong; they just executed well.”
Yelich, batting third for the first time since early August, had been struggling statistically but notably stepped up since being named the franchise’s first captain. He made history by tripling in his first World Series at-bat, something not seen since 1985.
Contreras followed up by driving in Yelich with a single that was deflected by the shortstop.
Tampa Bay responded with a run in the fourth when Aranda walked and advanced to third on a double by Caminero, eventually scoring on a groundout from Hicks.
In the seventh inning, Milwaukee heightened their lead to 3-1. Pratt walked and scored from second on a two-out single from Chourio.
That additional run turned out to be crucial.
“The guys settled in and did a great job,” Yelich commented. “We’ve got a long way to go, but it feels good to take that first one.”
