Brewers Beat Rays 3-2 in World Series Game 1 After Ninth-Inning Replay Drama

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Friday night in Game 1 of the World Series at American Family Field, taking a 1-0 series lead in front of 43,250 fans. Milwaukee scored twice in the first inning, added a third run in the seventh, and held on through a ninth inning that ended with the tying run at third base.

A record first pitch and a fast start

Jacob Misiorowski opened the game with a 103.5 mph fastball to Yandy Diaz. It was the fastest pitch recorded in a World Series game since pitch tracking began in 2008, the Associated Press reported, passing the 103.2 mph mark Aroldis Chapman set in 2016. Misiorowski threw 38 pitches at 100 mph or faster. He worked five innings, the longest postseason start of his career, and allowed one run on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

The Brewers gave him the lead in the first. Jackson Chourio led off with a single, and Christian Yelich drove him home with a triple into the right-center field gap, past the diving glove of center fielder Jonny DeLuca. One pitch later, William Contreras singled to bring Yelich home for a 2-0 lead. Martinez settled down after that and finished with two runs allowed on five hits in five innings, with no walks and five strikeouts.

Contreras controls the game behind the plate

Jonathan Aranda walked in the fourth inning, moved to third on a Junior Caminero double, and came home on a Liam Hicks groundout, cutting the lead to 2-1. In the fifth inning, the Milwaukee catcher threw out Victor Mesa Jr. trying to steal third base with two outs and Diaz at the plate. In the sixth, he completed a strikeout of Chandler Simpson by throwing out Aranda at second base to end the inning. He finished the night with two hits and one run batted in.

Abner Uribe struck out Caminero in the seventh, and Aaron Ashby retired the Rays in order in the eighth with two strikeouts, extending his scoreless postseason streak to 14 innings.

Insurance in the seventh, drama in the ninth

Milwaukee added its third run in the seventh. Cooper Pratt worked an eight-pitch walk, moved to second on a David Hamilton groundout, and scored when Chourio singled on the first pitch from reliever Kevin Kelly down the right field line. Chourio finished with two hits, one run scored and one run batted in.

The ninth inning nearly changed the result. Closer Trevor Megill gave up two one-out singles and walked Caminero to load the bases. Hicks then hit a ground ball that Milwaukee turned into what looked like a game-ending double play. A replay review overturned the out at second base because Pratt had come off the bag. The out at first base stood, Jorge Mateo scored to make it 3-2, and Tampa Bay had runners at second and third with two outs. Megill struck out DeLuca to end the game.

A first title is now three wins away

Both clubs are chasing the first championship in franchise history. Milwaukee is in the World Series for the first time since 1982. Tampa Bay is making its third appearance after losses in 2008 and 2020. The Brewers finished the regular season with the best record in baseball at 103-59, and the Rays finished 98-64. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday night in Milwaukee, and the series moves to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg for Game 3 on Monday, October 26.