Milwaukee Brewers close out Tampa Bay Rays to end 57-year wait for first World Series title

The Milwaukee Brewers captured their first World Series championship on Wednesday night, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 to complete a four-games-to-one victory and end more than half a century of waiting for baseball’s biggest prize.

Cooper Pratt drove in two runs and Jacob Misiorowski pitched five and two-thirds scoreless innings as Milwaukee put the finishing touches on a charmed season that began with championship ambitions and ended with the first title in the franchise’s 57-year history.

Trevor Megill secured the final out when Richie Palacios grounded to second baseman Brice Turang, who threw to Jake Bauers to seal Milwaukee’s long-sought maiden title.

“I know the city’s waited a long, long time for this and we’re so happy to bring it home to them,” Christian Yelich said. “Can’t wait to get back there and celebrate.”

The Brewers, who arrived in Milwaukee in 1970 after one season as the Seattle Pilots, had reached the World Series only once before. Their seven-game defeat to the St Louis Cardinals in 1982 remained the closest they had come until this year, when a team blending young talent with October experience finally went one step further.

Milwaukee had been three outs from completing a sweep on Tuesday night in Game 4 before surrendering a 12th-inning lead. Given another opportunity on Wednesday, the Brewers built a four-run advantage behind Misiorowski, who allowed two hits and one walk while striking out two before departing following an injury delay in the sixth.

Tampa Bay’s best early opportunity came in the fourth, when Liam Hicks was hit by a pitch and Chandler Simpson singled, with Sal Frelick’s fielding error leaving runners at second and third with two outs.

Misiorowski induced a groundout from Ben Williamson, whose pinch-hit single had won Game 4, to leave both runners stranded. He then retired the Rays in order in the fifth.

“I don’t even have words,” Misiorowski said. “I know they’re going crazy in Milwaukee.” Asked about the fans’ support, he added: “Damn it, I’m getting emotional.”

Pratt, the rookie who had collected four hits in Tuesday’s defeat, again supplied an important part of Milwaukee’s offense. Brice Turang doubled in the second inning and, after Frelick was hit by a pitch, scored on Pratt’s single to center. Pratt was caught trying to reach second, but the Brewers had the lead.

Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen, pitching on three days’ rest, kept the deficit at one through four innings before manager Kevin Cash turned to his bullpen.

Milwaukee immediately added another run. Pratt singled off Kevin Kelly, Garrett Mitchell followed with another single and David Hamilton’s ground-ball single to right brought Pratt home for a 2-0 advantage.

The Brewers widened the gap in the sixth. Christian Yelich was hit by a Garrett Cleavinger pitch and scored on William Contreras’s double to left. Turang singled, then stole second after Tyler Wells entered. Following a Frelick strikeout, Pratt lifted a sacrifice fly into foul territory in right, scoring Contreras to make it 4-0.

The Rays threatened with two outs in the ninth. After Liam Hicks doubled and Jonny DeLuca struck out, Chandler Simpson lined an RBI double to right off Megill, cutting Milwaukee’s lead to 4-1 and bringing the potential tying run into the on-deck circle. But Megill induced a groundout from Richie Palacios to seal the title and set off celebrations among Brewers fans everywhere.

The championship capped a season in which Milwaukee posted a major league-best 103-59 record before winning the National League pennant for the first time.

For Pat Murphy, it was the crowning achievement of his third season managing the Brewers. The 67-year-old, previously Craig Counsell’s bench coach, had already won consecutive National League manager of the year awards before guiding Milwaukee to the promised land.

The Brewers established their advantage with three consecutive victories: a narrow win in the opener, a comeback from four runs down in Game 2 and a 10-1 rout in Game 3. Tuesday’s setback delayed their celebration but ultimately did not change the outcome.

Tampa Bay, who won an American League-best 98 games, were left with a third World Series defeat following losses in 2008 and 2020.

The Brewers’ triumph marked the city of Milwaukee’s first World Series championship since 1957, when Lew Burdette’s three complete-game victories powered the Braves past the New York Yankees in a seven-game classic, delivering the city’s first professional sports title. The Braves relocated to Atlanta nine years later.

This year’s Fall Classic guaranteed a first-time champion, only the second such World Series in 107 years and the first World Series since Philadelphia faced Kansas City in 1980. Milwaukee claimed that distinction, leaving the Rays, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners as the four active major league franchises still seeking their first title.

Amid the celebrations, Yelich remembered the beloved Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker, who died last year aged 90. “He’s smiling, man. He’s smiling. I really wish he could have been here to see this,” he said. “This one’s still for Bob and this is still for you.”