Brewers rally from 4-0 deficit to beat Rays 5-4, lead World Series 2-0

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in Game 2 of the World Series at American Family Field. Milwaukee also won Game 1 and now leads the best-of-seven series 2-0.

The Rays led 4-0 after the top of the first inning. Sal Frelick tied the score 4-4 with a sixth-inning home run off left-hander Ian Seymour. His previous home run against a left-handed pitcher came on Opening Day. Cooper Pratt hit the go-ahead single in the seventh inning. Drew Rasmussen started for Tampa Bay.

It was the second time this postseason that Milwaukee won after trailing by four runs. The other came after a 4-0 deficit against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Game 3 is scheduled for Monday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Brewers have never won a World Series title.

Game details

According to ESPN, Game 2 was played on Saturday night, and Milwaukee won Game 1 3-2. AP reported that Frelick's home run was his first in three months; ESPN reported it was his first since 11 July, a span of 103 plate appearances. ESPN reported that it came on a 92 mph fastball at the end of a nine-pitch at-bat.

According to ESPN, Pratt, 22, singled off Kevin Kelly to score Brice Turang. Turang had doubled off Tyler Wells. Abner Uribe got the win with 1⅓ hitless innings. Wells took the loss. Aaron Ashby pitched the ninth.

ESPN reported that Brewers rookie starter Logan Henderson allowed four runs, three earned, in three innings. Rasmussen allowed three runs over 3⅔ innings, according to the same report. Both teams made defensive mistakes. Pratt's first-inning error preceded all four Rays runs, while Tampa Bay committed one error and two other misplays, ESPN reported.

According to ESPN, this is Milwaukee's first World Series since 1982. The Rays are also seeking their first title. ESPN reported that Milwaukee has won seven straight games. It named former Brewer Freddy Peralta as the Rays' scheduled Game 3 starter, against Brewers left-hander Robert Gasser.

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include an official MLB box score to verify the statistical claims.

What is disputed

The reports differ on how many teams have won the World Series after trailing 0-2. The Japan Times says only 10 teams have done so. ESPN reports that 46 of 57 previous teams with a 2-0 lead won the title, which implies 11. The reports reviewed do not resolve the difference.

What each side says

ESPN quoted Pratt as saying: "As long as there's game left, we have a chance. I think we've all bought into that. We're never out of it."

Frelick was quoted by ESPN as saying: "I don't hit a lot of home runs, especially to center, so I was happy it went out."

Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Rasmussen, according to ESPN: "Just felt like he wasn't as sharp as he's been for quite some time."

Analysis

A 2-0 lead has historically been a strong position. ESPN reports that each of the past 13 teams to hold one won the title. History does not decide a series, however. The next games move to Tropicana Field, and the Rays' scheduled starter, Freddy Peralta, has allowed two runs in 16⅔ postseason innings, according to ESPN. Milwaukee's repeated comebacks show resilience. Its frequent errors and early deficits also show possible vulnerabilities. A Rays win on Monday would narrow the series. A Brewers win would put Milwaukee one game from its first championship. Either outcome remains open.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.