Brewers beat Rays 3-2 in World Series Game 1 after replay reverses double play

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 1 of the World Series in Milwaukee on Friday. Milwaukee leads the series 1-0.

Closer Trevor Megill ended the game by striking out Jonny DeLuca with runners on second and third.

A reversed ending

In the ninth inning, Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson hit consecutive singles off Megill. Junior Caminero walked to load the bases. According to The Guardian, a double steal by pinch-runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson had earlier put the potential tying run in scoring position.

With one out, Liam Hicks grounded into a play first ruled a game-ending double play. Fireworks went off at the stadium. A replay review then overturned the call. Shortstop Cooper Pratt's right foot was off second base when he caught second baseman Brice Turang's throw. Hicks was still out at first, and the score stood at 3-2. ESPN reports that the Rays challenged the play. The Guardian describes a video review without saying who initiated it.

How the game unfolded

In the first inning, Jackson Chourio singled and scored on a triple by Christian Yelich. William Contreras then drove in Yelich with a single that deflected off shortstop Taylor Walls. The Rays scored in the fourth on an Aranda walk, a Caminero double and a Hicks groundout. In the seventh, Pratt walked and scored on a Chourio single to make it 3-1.

Jacob Misiorowski was the winning pitcher. He allowed one run over five innings. His first pitch was clocked at 103.5 mph, the fastest pitch recorded in World Series history. According to ESPN, he became the youngest pitcher to win Game 1 of a World Series since 1997. Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Megill pitched in relief. Contreras threw out two Rays runners attempting to steal. Nick Martinez started for Tampa Bay. The Guardian reports he allowed two runs over five innings.

Context

It was the Brewers' first World Series appearance since 1982. Neither franchise has won a championship. Milwaukee reached the final by sweeping the defending champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Drew Rasmussen is scheduled to start Game 2 for Tampa Bay. ESPN reports that Logan Henderson will start for Milwaukee.

What each side says

The Guardian quoted Yelich as saying: "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." Misiorowski said, according to The Guardian: "I thought Coop had him, and obviously I was wrong."

Rays manager Kevin Cash called Misiorowski "such a special pitcher", according to ESPN. ESPN quoted Martinez as saying: "This series is going to be a dogfight."

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include an official MLB or umpire statement on the replay ruling.

Analysis

The overturned call shows how replay review can change the final moments of a close game, even after a result appears settled. The reports do not describe the review procedure in detail, which leaves some questions about the process open. On the field, Milwaukee's hard-throwing pitching staff and Contreras's throwing limited Tampa Bay. The Rays still nearly rallied against a closer who had not allowed a run this postseason. According to The Guardian, Game 1 winners have won the series 62.8% of the time. That is a historical pattern, not a forecast. With both franchises seeking a first title, Game 2 could either extend Milwaukee's lead or level the series.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.