Brewers survive chaotic ninth-inning replay drama to beat Rays in World Series opener

Trevor Megill struck out Jonny DeLuca with runners on second and third to escape a ninth-inning jam as the Milwaukee Brewers held on for a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.

DeLuca’s strikeout came after Tampa Bay’s Liam Hicks had grounded into an apparent game-ending double play that was overturned after a video review. Replays showed that Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt’s right foot was slightly off the bag when he reached to catch a high throw from second baseman Brice Turang.

“You have a big range of emotions,” Milwaukee captain Christian Yelich said. “It’s a big credit to Trev for locking back in right there and making some huge pitches after you have that emotional dump and then have to get back on it.”

Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run and four hits over five innings to earn the victory.

“Not perfect, but good enough to get a win,” he said.

Yelich hit a run-scoring triple to spark a two-run rally in the first inning that put the Brewers ahead for good and delighted a sellout crowd reveling in Milwaukee’s first World Series game since 1982. Jackson Chourio and William Contreras each had two hits, including an RBI single. Contreras also threw out two runners trying to steal.

It was the first World Series featuring two teams seeking their first championship since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals in six games. The only other major league clubs without a World Series title are the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.

The Game 1 winner has gone on to win the World Series 62.8% of the time.

Tampa Bay trailed 3-1 and had not put a runner on base since the sixth inning until mounting a comeback attempt in the ninth.

Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson hit consecutive one-out singles off Megill. A double steal involving pinch-runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson put the potential tying run in scoring position with Rays slugger Junior Caminero at the plate. Caminero walked on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt to load the bases.

Hicks hit a grounder to the right side, and Turang ranged well to his left to field the ball before throwing to Pratt to start what was initially ruled a game-ending double play.

Fireworks went off, players poured onto the field and Milwaukee fans roared – before the crowd hushed as it watched the play again on the videoboard.

A replay review determined Pratt’s right foot came off the bag as he caught Turang’s throw. Hicks was still out at first, but the Rays now had runners at second and third with the score 3-2.

“I thought Coop had him, and obviously I was wrong,” Misiorowski said.

Megill finally sealed the win as DeLuca struck out swinging.

“You just have to lock it back in,” Yelich said. “It’s the World Series – you have to do what you have to do to make things happen.”

By sweeping the two-time defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the National League Championship Series, the Brewers had time to set up their rotation the way they wanted by handing the Game 1 start to Misiorowski, the hard-throwing NL Cy Young Award favorite.

Misiorowski opened the game by throwing the fastest pitch ever delivered in a World Series, a 103.5mph ball to Yandy Díaz. The right-hander finished with a season-low three strikeouts.

While Milwaukee started with their ace, Tampa Bay countered with Nick Martinez to give two-time All-Star pitchers Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta an extra day of rest. Martinez struck out five and allowed two runs over five innings, but a slow start proved costly.

Chourio lined a single to right field on Martinez’s first pitch, and Yelich drove him home with a one-out triple to centre. DeLuca covered 85ft to track down Yelich’s drive but just missed making a diving catch as the ball glanced off his glove.

Yelich was batting third in the lineup for the first time since 3 August. The three-time All-Star and 2018 NL MVP posted the lowest on-base percentage (.315) and OPS (.692) of his career, but he has stepped up his game since being named the first team captain in franchise history during the final week of the regular season.

He was the seventh player to triple in his first World Series plate appearance, and the first since Kansas City’s Lynn Jones in 1985, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Contreras knocked home Yelich with a line-drive single to left that was deflected by shortstop Taylor Walls with the infield playing in.

Tampa Bay got a run back in the fourth.

Aranda drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third when Caminero doubled on a one-out liner with a 112.7mph exit velocity that sailed over centre fielder Garrett Mitchell and off his outstretched glove. Aranda came home on Hicks’ groundout to the right side.

Milwaukee extended their lead to 3-1 in the seventh. Pratt drew a leadoff walk from Steven Matz and scored from second when Chourio greeted Kevin Kelly with a two-out single.

That insurance run proved critical.

“The guys settled in right away and did a great job,” Yelich said. “We still have a ways to go, but it’s nice to get that first one.”